Donor aid is especially important now, as on January 20, the United States froze foreign aid for 90 days, which has led to a near-complete halt in humanitarian and development aid funded by USAID and other U.S. foreign aid funds. The Estonian Refugee Council supports people affected by the war in Ukraine both in Estonia and Ukraine
The Estonian Refugee Council has been operating in Ukraine since 2014 and has supported people affected by the war with urgent humanitarian aid and programmes that support long-term recovery. The situation in Ukraine remains very critical, with more than a third of the Ukrainian population in need of humanitarian assistance.
The Estonian Refugee Council also supports people who have suffered from the war and who have arrived in Estonia. EERO Canada has helped supported this with over $400,000CAD for Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Estonia through the Estonian Refugee Council. As of 2025, there were more than 42,000 Ukrainian Ukrainians with international protection in Estonia (i.e. semi-permanently residing in Estonia). In 2024, more than 6,700 Ukrainians who arrived in Estonia received support from the Estonian Refugee Council, whom we supported through counselling, training, community events, mental health support, and entrepreneurship and labour market programmes.
Support the mental health of Ukrainian refugees in Estonia
In addition, the Estonian Refugee Council is collecting donations to support people who left their homes in Ukraine and found protection from the war in Estonia. We implemented the MindSpring program for Ukrainian refugees, as it offers mental health support to people affected by the war and supports coping in a new environment. MindSpring is a group-based program recognized by the European Commission, created for people with a refugee background. Participating in a group provides knowledge and skills that help to better understand the new situation and offers an opportunity to discuss topics such as stress, trauma, identity, relationships, family life, loneliness, worries and loss with other people in a similar situation.
- By donating 43 € ($64 CAD, $45 USD) you support one person's participation in one MindSpring meeting
- By donating 345 € ($511 CAD, $360 USD) you support one person's participation in the entire program
- By donating 3450 € ($5115 CAD, $3,600 USD) you support the implementation of the MindSpring program for 10 people
As part of the campaign, we hope to collect donations to run five MindSpring groups. Through five groups, we could offer mental health support to 50 people. To do this, we need to raise $17,250 ($25,575 CAD, $18,000 USD). Today, the help of donors is especially important so that we can continue to provide critical assistance to people who are in great need. Please donate to EERO Canada – EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund.
The suspension of USAID funding has had a significant impact on our ability to distribute aid in Ukraine, where the Estonian Refugee Council is one of the largest providers of cash-based humanitarian aid in frontline and hard-to-reach areas. We will continue to provide cash-based assistance in areas of critical need, including transit centres for evacuees, but we have been forced to reduce our operations due to the suspension of US funding. This will have the most acute impact on people who have suffered from the war and who need and depend on humanitarian aid for their daily subsistence.
In February and March, the Estonian Refugee Council will collect donations for vulnerable people who have resettled in Ukraine to provide them with much-needed assistance. Donations reach those in need as cash-based support, allowing them to purchase food, medicines, hygiene supplies and other essentials. If donations through EERO Canada exceed $25,575 CAD, these funds will be used to provide essential assistance to people close to the front.
By donating 276€ ($409CAD, $288USD), you will ensure that one person receives essential assistance for three months
Through the campaign, we hope to support 300 vulnerable people in Ukraine with cash-based assistance. To help them, we need to raise a total of $82,800 ($123,000CAD, $$86,400USD).
Eesti Pagulasabi toetab Ukraina sõja tõttu kannatanud inimesi nii Eestis kui Ukrainas
Donate to the victims of the war via EERO Canada, e-transfer: eerolaekur@gmail.com
*Please include your e-mail address where we can send your income tax receipt. Via credit card: eerocanada.com/eero-ukrainian-refugee-fund
Kristin Västra
Estonian Refugee Council's Donation Specialist
