UNHCR and Caritas selected for €10 million donation to support Ukraine

The image accompanying the News on Intesa Sanpaolo's support to UNHCR - UN Refugee Agency - and to Caritas Italiana to deal with the humanitarian emergency affecting the population and refugees of Ukraine, portrays a small child with his arms outstretched towards an adult who, from the door of a train, opens his hands to welcome him

UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency and Caritas Italiana are the first two recipients of Intesa Sanpaolo’s €10 million donation to provide humanitarian relief in Ukraine and support Ukrainian refugees in Italy.

Intesa Sanpaolo also signed an agreement with trade unions to make paid leave quickly available to Group employees who wish to host Ukrainian citizens in Italy – including colleagues from Intesa Sanpaolo’s Ukrainian subsidiary Pravex Bank – or who are engaged in voluntary initiatives outside Italy to provide humanitarian support.

According to data from UNHCR, the war has already resulted in more than 3.5 million refugees who have crossed the borders of Ukraine and more than 6.5 million internally displaced persons.

Agreement with UNHCR for the Ukraine emergency

The funds raised in favor of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, will serve to cope with the ongoin humanitarian emergency in Ukraine by supporting the work of UNCHR in all regions of the country and in neighboring countries.

UNHCR is on the frontline in providing essential survival goods, including food, emergency shelter, blankets, jerry cans, hygiene products and plastic sheeting for bomb-damaged homes. It provides the most vulnerable families with direct economic assistance to meet basic expenses. It supports Ukrainian authorities in setting up reception centres and registering those in vulnerable conditions. UNHCR also conducts protection activities against sexual exploitation and abuse.

Intesa Sanpaolo is also providing support to UNHCR through its online crowdfunding platform For Funding for individuals and companies wishing to contribute. Intesa Sanpaolo will match every donation made.

Agreement with Caritas italiana for the Ukraine emergency

The project "A.P.R.I. Accogliere Promuovere Proteggere Integrare i Profughi Ukraini in Italia" (“Welcome, Promote, Protect and Integrate Ukrainian Refugees in Italy”) with Caritas Italiana aims to support the Caritas diocesan network in providing emergency hospitality of Ukrainian refugees throughout Italy, offering services that look beyond the emergency to the medium and long term.