=In response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, Canadian Foodgrains Bank and other leading Canadian aid agencies – through the Humanitarian Coalition – are launching an appeal to raise funds and rush emergency assistance to people in need.

Approximately 2.9 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the invasion, a figure which is expected to rise exponentially.

Humanitarian Coalition members and their local partners will be responding to the crisis caused by the conflict in Ukraine by providing emergency assistance to affected families.

Andy Harrington, executive director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, says it’s a known fact that conflict is one of the leading causes of global hunger.

“Access to food, both for those in Ukraine and for those being displaced by the war will become a priority during this humanitarian crisis,” he said. “So we’re appealing to Canadians to donate for emergency food aid to Ukrainians in need.”

Canadians can give to Ukrainian emergency relief at together.ca or by calling 1-855-461-2154.

The Humanitarian Coalition brings together 12 leading aid organizations to provide Canadians with a simple way to help during large-scale humanitarian emergencies. The following agencies are members of the Humanitarian Coalition: Action Against Hunger, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, CARE Canada, Doctors of the World, Humanity & Inclusion, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan International Canada, Save the Children and World Vision Canada.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end hunger. In the 2020-21 budget year, the Foodgrains Bank provided $49 million of assistance for 989,000 people in 33 countries. Canadian Foodgrains Bank programs are undertaken with support from the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada. Assistance from the Foodgrains Bank is provided through its member agencies, which work with local partners in the developing world.