Global Social Media Rally Aims to Drive Billions for Refugee Relief at Pledging Event Convened by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Warsaw, Poland on April 9

Apr 5, 2022 1:00 PM ET
"World Leaders: Please fund billions for refuges. Stand up for Ukraine" banner

Adam Lambert, Alex Len of the Sacramento Kings, Antykila, Arlo Parks, Ashlee Simpson, Au/Ra, Axelle Red, Barenaked Ladies, Bastille, Becky Lynch, Bevy Smith, Billy Porter, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, Chris Tomlin, Christine and the Queens, Connie Britton, Dave Matthews, Daymond John, Dora Jar, Drew McIntyre, Dylan Dunlap, Ellen DeGeneres, Ellie Goulding, Evan Ross, Fall Out Boy, Finn Bälor, Gelila Assefa Puck, Hozier, Isha Sesay, Jamala, Jesse McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi, Julian Lennon, KD Lang, Kalush, Kesha, Lennon Stella, Little Big, Lola Lennox, Luis Fonsi, MÅNESKIN, Masha Efrosinina, Max Kilman, Metallica, Michael Blackson, Miyavi, Nicky Jam, Nigel Barker, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Noah Cyrus, Nuno Bettencourt, Padma Lakshmi, Panic! At The Disco, Rachel Brosnahan, Rita Ora, Rufus Wainwright, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, SOFI TUKKER, Sviatoslav “Svi” Mykhailiuk of the Toronto Raptors, Third Eye Blind, Ukulele U, Vitaly Potapenko of the Memphis Grizzlies, Weezer, Within Temptation, Zucchero, 5 Seconds of Summer, the NBA, NBPA, and WWE Join “STAND UP FOR UKRAINE” To Call for World Leaders to Commit to Aiding Refugees from Ukraine & Other Conflicts
 

NEW YORK, April 5, 2022 /3BL Media/ - Today, Global Citizen announced that Adam Lambert, Alex Len, Antykila, Arlo Parks, Ashlee Simpson, Au/Ra, Axelle Red, Barenaked Ladies, Bastille, Becky Lynch, Bevy Smith, Billy Porter, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, Chris Tomlin, Christine and the Queens, Connie Britton, Dave Matthews, Daymond John, Dora Jar, Drew McIntyre, Dylan Dunlap, Ellen DeGeneres, Ellie Goulding, Evan Ross, Fall Out Boy, Finn Bälor, Gelila Assefa Puck, Hozier, Isha Sesay, Jamala, Jesse McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi, Julian Lennon, Kalush, Kesha, KD Lang, Lennon Stella, Lola Lennox, Little Big, Luis Fonsi, MÅNESKIN, Masha Efrosinina, Max Kilman, Metallica, Michael Blackson, Miyavi, Nicky Jam, Nigel Barker, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Noah Cyrus, Nuno Bettencourt, Padma Lakshmi, Panic! At The Disco, Rachel Brosnahan, Rita Ora, Rufus Wainwright, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, SOFI TUKKER, Sviatoslav “Svi” Mykhailiuk, Third Eye Blind, Ukulele U, Vitaly Potapenko, Weezer, Within Temptation, Zucchero, 5 Seconds of Summer, the NBA, NBPA, NHL Alumni Association, and WWE, have joined the “Stand Up for Ukraine” social media rally on Friday, April 8. The social media rally will lead into the Saturday, April 9 pledging event in Warsaw, Poland, convened by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in partnership with Global Citizen, and moderated by Isha Sesay, with the participation of Andrzej Duda, President of Poland. The campaign is also being supported by Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia, Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, Janez Janša, Prime Minister of Slovenia, Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway, and Magdalena Andersson, Prime Minister of Sweden.

The pledging event will mobilize funding to support humanitarian efforts for Ukraine and galvanize support for refugees everywhere.

They join previously announced artists, entertainers, athletes, and advocates who responded to the pledging event and the call to action made by Ukraine President Zelenskyy including, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Adam Durica, Aitana, Alanis Morissette, Alejandro Sanz, Alexandra Stan, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Billie Eilish, Billy Joel, Celine Dion, Chris Isaak, Chris Rock, Demi Lovato, Elton John and David Furnish, FINNEAS, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Gloria Steinem, Green Day, Herbert Grönemeyer, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, Igo, Jon Batiste, Jonas Brothers, Juanes, Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, Leon Bridges, Luke Combs, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Mirai, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Pharrell Williams, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ryan Tedder, Sarsa, Shaquille O’Neal, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Tame Impala, U2, Usher, Vito Bambino, and Young Leosia.

We have all witnessed the catastrophe unfolding in Ukraine, where the human cost has been devastating, destroying lives and leading to mass displacement. According to UNHCR, around 12 million people need assistance currently because of the war.  More than 6.5 million are displaced internally. And in one month, over 4.2 million people have left Ukraine and fled to neighboring countries. Over 2.5 million among them are women and children.

On March 1, the United Nations released an emergency funding appeal for $1.7B to support people inside Ukraine – including those internally displaced – as well as those seeking shelter beyond its borders, for an initial period of three months. Significant funds are needed now to address immediate needs like food, shelter, and decent living conditions for those who fled their homes including millions of internally displaced people, and support for the generous neighboring countries hosting millions of refugees.

This crisis comes at a time when aid organizations and development budgets are already under strain. More than 82 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes and relief efforts globally are woefully underfunded. Globally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ system faces an approximately US$10 billion funding shortfall to support millions of forcibly displaced people in more than 133 countries and territories around the globe. Additionally, the United Nations announced just last week that it received less than one-third of what it needs to fully fund its operations and avoid starvation in war-torn Yemen. Other conflict situations face similar challenges.

The world must avoid pitting vulnerable people against one another. From today through to Saturday, April 9, artists, athletes, actors, politicians and citizens will “stand up” in unity and demand funding for refugee relief efforts around the world.

Contributions to Ukrainian refugee efforts must be new and additional to existing development priorities, governments must live up to their international aid obligations, and all people seeking refuge should be treated fairly and equally without discrimination based on nationality, race, or place of origin.

Global citizens everywhere are urged to join this social media rally by visiting www.forukraine.com and taking action to call on governments and businesses to pledge the billions that the refugee relief effort so urgently needs.

For more information about “Stand Up for Ukraine,” visit www.forukraine.com.

# # #

ABOUT GLOBAL CITIZEN:
Global Citizen is the world's largest movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending extreme poverty NOW. We post, tweet, message, vote, sign, and call to inspire those who can make things happen — government leaders, businesses, philanthropists, artists, and citizens — together improving lives. By downloading our app, Global Citizens learn about the systemic causes of extreme poverty, take action on those issues, and earn rewards, which can be redeemed for tickets to concerts, events, and experiences all over the world. For more information, visit www.globalcitizen.org and follow @GlblCtzn.

CONTACT:

Global Citizen Inquiries: media@globalcitizen.org

Media Inquiries: Sunshine Sachs on behalf of Global Citizen, gc@sunshinesachs.com