FIA establishes Humanitarian Task Force to support people affected by Ukraine crisis

An FIA Humanitarian Task Force decided by both World Councils has been established with representatives from Sport and Mobility to mobilise and co-ordinate humanitarian responses from the FIA community.  

As part of the initiative, a €1 million contribution on behalf of the FIA and the FIA Foundation is being made to further support humanitarian actions to alleviate the suffering of persons caused by the crisis in the Ukraine.

The financial support will be split equally between the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as a charitable contribution. 

The donations to the IFRC and the UNHCR will provide support to those in need, especially those most at risk including unaccompanied minors, single parent families, the elderly and the disabled. It will provide support for families with food, water, and hygiene products and assist people leaving Ukraine with shelter, basic aid items and medical supplies.  

The donation builds on ongoing actions from FIA member clubs across Sport and Mobility that mobilised quickly and are already providing humanitarian support and assistance to refugees and internally-displaced persons. Member clubs have been collecting and transporting essential goods (medication, non-perishable food, hygiene and baby products), providing roadside assistance, and financial support through humanitarian organisations. 

The FIA is grateful for the efforts of the global motor sport community and fans who are independently providing support to charitable and humanitarian causes for those affected by this crisis.

The humanitarian needs are increasing exponentially. It is estimated that 3.3 million people have left their homes in Ukraine and crossed into neighbouring countries of Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, and Slovakia, among others. 6.5M persons have been displaced internally in the Ukraine. More than 12M people have been affected in the hardest hit areas. 

Three members of the World Motor Sport Council – Amina Mohamed of Kenya, Jan Stovicek of the Czech Republic and Rado Raspet of Slovenia – were yesterday appointed to FIA Humanitarian Task Force. They join the six members from WCAMT – Tim Shearman, Thomas Møller Thomsen, Greig Craft, Frank Fotia, Ricardo Morales Rubio, and Alejandro Quintana Hurtado. Saul Billingsley is also on the Task Force representing the FIA Foundation.

President FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “In collaboration with the FIA Foundation, and with the support of the IFRC and the UNHCR, we are combining  our FIA resources to support the humanitarian effort in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. We are indebted to the initiatives of our Member Clubs and the FIA Foundation in making a contribution to easing the plight of all those affected by the invasion of Ukraine. We hope for a peaceful outcome to the conflict.”