Conflict between armed groups and government forces in eastern Ukraine has affected millions of people since 2014. Since Russia launched a full-scale military invasion into Ukraine on February 24, fighting has led to significant civilian casualties. The UN reports that some 2.9 million people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian assistance and some 1.5 million Ukrainians had been driven from their homes by fighting, seeking refuge elsewhere in the country and crossing borders to neighboring European countries. This is the largest armed conflict in Europe since 1945.
In response to this urgent situation, Bain Capital’s partners are committing at least $500,000 towards relief efforts and support in Ukraine. To date, we have made donations to Global Aid Network, International Medical Corps and World Central Kitchen.
Global Aid Network is an international humanitarian aid organization that has been providing aid, development and disaster response around the world since 1990. Over the past few months, Global Aid Network has delivered over 1,000 tons of groceries, essential hygiene items, beds, mattresses and blankets to over 400,000 Ukrainian refugees in Ukraine and in refugee camps in neighboring countries.
International Medical Corps, is providing primary and emergency health services from medical professionals, mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence response services, increased protection of women and children and COVID-19 prevention and awareness services. The IMC’s efforts are particularly critical given the emerging refugee crisis stemming from the flight of thousands of Ukrainians. Our firm last partnered with International Medical Corps in 2020 to support relief efforts following the port explosion in Beirut.
World Central Kitchen is serving millions of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as to people remaining in the country. The organization is serving round-the-clock dishes at eight border crossings across the country, as well as supporting local restaurants preparing meals in cities across Ukraine including in Odessa, Lviv, and Kyiv. World Central Kitchen teams are also on the ground serving thousands of meals every day in Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Spain and Germany. Bain Capital has previously partnered with World Central Kitchen to support relief efforts in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2018 and in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
We are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide additional grants to other organizations assisting in Ukraine as the long-term needs become clearer.
