Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading

Campaign launches search for 100K sponsors in the US to help Ukrainian refugees

A nonprofit group that coordinated help for Afghan refugees to the U.S. is launching a new effort to recruit 100,000 American residents to sponsor Ukrainian refugees.

The big picture: Welcome.US is spearheading the effort as the Biden administration announced on Thursday the "Uniting for Ukraine" program which will allow Ukrainian citizens to apply for humanitarian parole.


  • To be eligible for the humanitarian parole, Ukrainians must have been living in Ukraine as of Feb. 11, 2022, have a sponsor in the U.S., complete vaccinations and other public health requirements, and pass "rigorous" screenings and security checks, per a DHS press release.
  • The recruitment push will be primarily funded by $3.6 million from the Goldman Sachs Gives fund. More than 60 partners, including service organizations and Ukrainian-American groups, are joining forces to get out the word.

Details: Under the plan, those Americans interested in sponsoring a Ukrainian family can sign up at ukraine.welcome.us beginning April 25.

  • Sponsors can offer to temporarily open their homes to newcomers through Airbnb.org or donate to Airbnb.org to help cover temporary housing costs.
  • People can also donate airline miles through Miles4Migrants or purchase needed items for refugees.

What they're saying: "We are eager to help mobilize and support the many Americans who want to do more for Ukrainians and others seeking refuge,” said Welcome.US CEO Nazanin Ash.

  • Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, a member of the Welcome.US CEO Council, said in a statement that his team "felt a responsibility to act" to help Ukrainians forced to flee their homes and that "we will continue to support the Ukrainian people in their hour of need.”

Background: Around 5 million people have fled Ukraine in the nearly two months since Russia launched its large-scale invasion, a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees tracker has found.

  • The U.N. refugee agency has labeled the exodus the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
  • About 2.8 million Ukrainian refugees as of April 19 have gone to Poland -- the most of any other country, according to the tracker.
  • Just under 760,000 have fled to Romania.
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.