I’ve seen first hand how the Red Cross wrap their arms around refugees – your donations will help, says Ben Fogle

WATCHING scenes of desperate families fleeing the violent mayhem which has unfolded in Ukraine has been absolutely harrowing. I applaud readers for giving so generously to The Sun’s Ukraine fund. Watching scenes of desperate families fleeing the violent mayhem which has unfolded in Ukraine has been absolutely harrowing Donate here to help Sun’s fund How to donate by text TEXT TO 70141 £3 — text SUN£3£5 — text SUN£5£10 — text SUN£10 Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile Every penny of your donations will go straight to the Red Cross, a charity very close to my heart. As a Red Cross ambassador, I have seen first-hand how your generous donations will be put to work immediately and effectively. As exhausted refugees cross into countries such as Poland, Hungary and Romania, volunteers and workers from the Red Cross have been there to help every hour of every day. Staff and volunteers from this trusted global movement are not only providing food, water and shelter for families fleeing the conflict, they are also helping the injured and wounded. Part of the reason the Red Cross is so effective is it is often local people — Red Cross staff and volunteers — who are at the forefront of a response. They are the first responders. Most read in The Sun STAGE FRIGHT Rocketman star Taron Egerton collapses on stage during show's opening night KATE'S FEARS Kate Garraway suffers fresh blow with husband Derek Draper MAKE SCENT Cleaning fan uses fabric softener in reed diffusers to make homes smell heavenly MECK IT WORK Lucy Meck shows off baby bump as Ryan's Corrie ex is accused of smashing car READY TO ACT SAS and US Navy SEALs 'training for high-risk rescue of Ukrainian president' SOAP 'BUST-UP' Corrie's Tina O'Brien 'smashed ex Ryan Thomas's car with bat in 1am row' Donate here to help Sun’s fund Over the years I have also witnessed how the charity operates as a huge global network all standing for neutrality. That network has swung into action to wrap their arms around the refugees of Ukraine. Polish Red Cross teams are distributing food, basic items and providing medical support. So far they have given shelter to hundreds of refugees from Ukraine. With help from 1,000 volunteers, Russian Red Cross has collected 47 tons of humanitarian aid for 18,000 people staying in temporary accommodation centres in Rostov and other regions. Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates The Red Cross in Moldova has opened a shelter in Chisinau for 800 people. Romania’s Red Cross has deployed volunteers from all branches along the border to distribute food, water, basic aid items and hygiene products. Every penny of your donations to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund goes to support this vital front line work. So, if you are in a position where you can help, please do anything you can. Even the smallest donation can help. More info The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis. In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund Every penny of your donations to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund goes to support this vital front line work