Actions to help Ukraine’s victims

• IT is easy to feel helpless when a crisis happens thousands of miles away, but there is always something we can do to help.

We saw that with the Camden staff and residents who showed up to welcome Ukrainian refugees at King’s Cross station and with the thousands across the country who volunteered to open up their homes to refugees fleeing conflict.

Compassion and passion are key to building a better future, not just for Ukrainians but for all who are fleeing instability, persecution, and conflict.

That is why on the first day of the Russian invasion, I set about helping to create a network of young activists from across Europe, through the Young European Socialists, which could pressure our governments on sanctions and provide aid for refugees fleeing conflict.

We also set up a rapid rebuttals unit to help counter Russian disinformation and help amplify the Ukrainian message.

The success of this network has exceeded many of our wildest imaginations, helping raise close to €10,000 from small donors across Europe for supplies and providing the funding to house over 500 refugees as well as build a new orphanage in Poland.

We are now in the process of setting up a cross-border charity with offices in London and Vienna to co-ordinate our efforts.

We hope Vladimir Putin will end this war soon so we can help rebuild Ukraine but until then we are ready with the tools to aid those who need it most.

PANNY ANTONIOU
Labour Candidate for Highgate ward