There’s no doubt that there is deep concern over those affected by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Our thoughts remain with the safety of those in the region and many companies are stepping forward to offer support in the ways they can. Today Amazon have announced that although they have no operations in Ukraine they are supporting humanitarian efforts in the country.
Over the past several days, Amazon have worked to understand how they can best help those who are affected by the violence. It’s difficult for any company without a local presence to provide direct support in a war zone, so Amazon are donating $5 million to organisations that are providing critical support on the ground, including UNICEF, UNHCR, World Food Programme, Red Cross, Polska Akcja Humanitarna, and Save the Children.
Amazon employees also say that they want to help, so Amazon are matching up to $5 million in additional donations from their team to those organisations. For customers who want to help, Amazon are adding donation buttons to the homepages of their websites in the U.S., UK, Poland, and Germany, and will waive any fees for payment processing.
In addition to providing financial support for relief efforts on the ground in Ukraine, Amazon are also working to support their teams and Ukrainian immigrants in other ways. For example, Amazon gave employees in Poland additional time off to take care of themselves and their families, and they are working with Ukrainian nationals to expedite immigration work visas if they’ve relocated.
The recovery from the war will take many years, and Amazon will continue working with NGOs, employees, and partners to support the relief efforts and those affected.
