Hundreds of thousands of people have shown their support for families affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine by donating money, clothes, food and essential medicines to those in need.
Around 2.5 million people have had to flee the country amid relentless Russian air strikes, with refugees heading to western borders with Poland, Romania and Hungary to get away from the fighting.
But aid workers have said they are now struggling to deliver material goods to those who need them - and that donating money is the best way to support the cause.
READ MORE: Ukraine latest as Russia '25km from Kyiv' and air strikes intensify
Limitations around distribution and transport costs mean that not all donated items can be handed to the right people, while aid workers also suggest that buying items locally is a good way of stimulating the economy in affected areas.
Cassandra Nelson, who works for humanitarian group Mercy Corps, said monetary donations are best, unless there is a "very specific request for something like a certain type of medicine".
“Having stuff trucked in here, like clothing items, is not the right solution right now," she explained. “It’s so hard to distribute correctly to the right people, and the transportation costs getting it here with the high gas prices just doesn’t work.
“We have functioning markets here in Romania or in Poland that we can buy what we need from.”
She said her team is in the process of setting up a cash transfer programme with local organisations to get money directly to individuals.
“We don’t want to give people stuff they don’t need, they know what they need, so we want to give them the money for that," she said.
“This will give them a bit more dignity and freedom to do what they need to do at this time."
The UN estimates that around seven million people could be internally displaced within Ukraine, while up to 18 million people in total could be affected.
Here's how you can donate to charities supporting people affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
Disasters Emergency Committee appeal
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has launched a humanitarian appeal to provide aid to those fleeing Ukraine.
The DEC is an umbrella group of 15 of the UK’s leading aid charities, including British Red Cross, Oxfam UK and Save the Children UK.
The charities are working on the ground in Ukraine and at the country’s borders to help those fleeing the conflict. The appeal aims to raise funds to be distributed among the charities working in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, giving people food, water and shelter.
The DEC said that “hundreds of thousands” of people contributed to the appeal within just hours of its launch, and in its first week it raised more than £150 million.
It said that £30 could provide essential hygiene supplies for three people for one month, £50 could provide blankets for four families and £100 could provide emergency food for two families for one month.
The level of donations to the appeal is second only to the response to the Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami that caused devastation in seven countries in 2004.
DEC chairwoman Sue Inglish echoed pleas for money rather than material goods.
“Our advice is – and this comes from members on grounds – that it is much better to give cash rather than to donate goods,” Ms Inglish said.
“This is in no way trying to minimise the response of people who are sending goods, it’s simply a way of trying to say what the most effective means we think of helping people in Ukraine and the surrounding areas now and in future is.”
Donate to the appeal here.
Unicef
Unicef says it is working across eastern Ukraine to scale up life-saving programmes for children.
Their work includes trucking safe water to conflict-affected areas and working to ensure there is immediate help for children and families in need.
Unicef-supported mobile teams are also providing psychosocial care to traumatised children.
Donate to Unicef here.
To make a donation over the phone call 0300 330 5699.
United Help Ukraine
United Help Ukraine is a charity focused on providing humanitarian aid to those in need, as well as raising awareness of the conflict.
Their appeal has so far raised more than $7 million dollars. The charity says it has already spent a total of $2.2 million on life-saving medicine, protective equipment and other urgent supplies to help people impacted directly.
Find out about the many ways you can donate here.
Sunflower Of Peace
Sunflower Of Peace is helping to gather medical supplies for paramedics and doctors on the front lines.
The charity provides backpacks for medics containing items such as bandages, anti hemorrhagic medicine and medical instruments. It says each backpack provided has the ability to save up to 10 lives.
Donate on Facebook here.
Read more:
Read all of our Ukraine coverage here.
