Update Ukraine Crisis Support Fund

In March 2022, the Ukraine Crisis Support Fund (UCSF) has been established by ISWAN to provide financial support to seafarers and their families who have been impacted by the war in the Ukraine. See also our news article of 22 March 2022.

After a slow start, ISWAN was flooded with requests. The fund offered cash grants of $500 for any seafarer affected by the conflict and in immediate and desperate need. ISWAN was assisted by a Stella Maris chaplain based in Ukraine and the local seafarers union who helped identify seafarers in need and prioritise their applications. By the middle of June, ISWAN had to stop the fund after making around 500 grants and having spent all the funds available. The fund was supplied by the Seafarers International Relief Fund (SIRF) who launched the SIRF Ukraine appeal in March 2022 and had raised over $400,000 to support seafarers and their families impacted by the humanitarian disaster in Ukraine.

After discussions with SIRF stakeholders about the future of UCSF, it was agreed that ISWAN and SIRF needed to review all of the support that has been offered by the industry, welfare organisations and unions before making a decision about future activities.