The IKEA Foundation commits €5 million to the emergency fund of MSF to provide medical assistance in and around Ukraine.

This is in addition to the €20 million granted earlier to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency bringing the total emergency funding by the Foundation to €25 million

LEIDEN. 15th March 2022. Today the IKEA Foundation announced its support for Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) with an immediate donation of €5 million to their emergency fund to provide life-saving care where the needs are the greatest, including for their operations in and around Ukraine. As war escalates in Ukraine and people flee, MSF teams are stepping up their response to a deepening humanitarian crisis, both in Ukraine and in neighboring countries. More than 2.5 million people have already been forcibly displaced from Ukraine, in what is now being seen as Europe’s biggest refugee crisis of the 21st century, and the worst since the Second World War.

Full-scale warfare means it is often difficult and dangerous for medical relief to reach certain areas. Health facilities in the region are facing immense pressure and have limited staff and supplies. Many hospitals are experiencing acute shortages because of high demand to meet the needs of many patients.

Per Heggenes, CEO, IKEA Foundation, said “The war in Ukraine is a devastating human tragedy and our deepest thoughts and empathy are with the many families impacted and unable to receive medical attention on time.  We have committed € 5 million to MSF as we have a long-standing relationship with them and believe they can respond effectively and efficiently to provide medical relief to those that have the greatest need. MSF has deep experience of working in crisis situations and with people affected by displacement, they provide the best opportunity for our funding to have a significant impact on ground”.

“MSF is deeply thankful to the IKEA Foundation for increasing their donation with an additional EUR 5M grant to our Emergency Fund said Stephen Cornish – Director General – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – Operational Center Geneva, he added “Our teams are working round the clock in Ukraine to address critical medical needs in the country, which continue to grow. Our immediate priority is to ensure hospitals have essential medical supplies to provide lifesaving care. We have already sent over 10 tons of medical supplies to treat the war-wounded, and much more is in the pipeline. Donations to essential supplies hospitals in Kyiv and eastern Ukraine have been ongoing since the start of war. And in Lviv, we have also started training hospital staff how to manage mass influx of wounded.  A record number of people have been displaced in Ukraine in a very short time both internally and across borders. MSF mobile clinics will soon start providing consultations to internally displaced people in Vinnytsya. MSF teams are also present in neighboring countries to address the medical needs of refugees”.

MSF’s response includes:

• Rushing new cargo shipments of emergency medical supplies to Ukraine, 10 tons of medical material was shipped and has arrived through trucks. 3 more trucks have recently left Bordeaux, another 10 tons, will reach Liviv soon;
• Donating supplies to hospitals in Kyiv and other cities to treat war-wounded and deal with mass casualty incidents (a large number of patients arriving at the same time);
• In Lviv, teams are training hospital staff to manage mass influx of wounded;
• In Odessa, are helping hospitals to prepare to take care of wounded by providing training, support for triage, and patient stabilization;
• Sending experienced emergency and specialist medical staff to Ukraine to support our existing teams;
• Preparing to start mobile clinics for primary health care to patients in Vinnytsya.

MSF is also responding in Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, Belarus and Russia. Learn more at www.msf.org/msf-response-war-ukraine

About Médecins Sans Frontières

Founded in 1971, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization, working in more than 70 countries. MSF provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Learn more at www.msf.org

About the MSF’s emergency fund

When emergencies and disasters such wars, floods or earthquakes happen anywhere around the world, MSF is often among the first organizations providing people critical medical care and support in countries that cannot themselves sufficiently respond. It’s crucial in any emergency situation that people’s humanitarian needs determine the funding we use, rather than having the amount of available funding define what needs we can meet. Our funding model reflects the fact that we must be flexible and quick to respond in times of crisis. That’s why MSF depends on contributions from private donors.

Donations to the Emergency Funds are utilized to scale up operations in response to unexpected emergencies, based on our own determination of immediate medical needs.

Media contact: Lotika.mehta@ikeafoundation.org