New Zealand is being urged to increase its humanitarian support to Ukraine beyond an initial contribution of $2 million.
Anastasiya Gutorova, a Ukrainian-born lawyer living in Auckland, said the commitment was extremely low, not just in comparison to other countries but to some private individuals, too.
She referenced American actors Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, who have personally donated more than NZ by giving US$3m (NZ$4.3m) as part of their campaign to raise US$30m for Ukraine.
“In comparison, $2m is frankly laughable,” Gutorova said.
“We absolutely need to step up and we need to get it there right now.”
Countries like Australia and Canada have both given far more than NZ on a per capita basis, with Australia giving AUD$35m (NZ$37.5m) in humanitarian aid and Canada pledging CAD$125m (NZ$142m).
Canada has also created an initiative where the government will match individual donations up to CAD$10m to the Canadian Red Cross.
Gutorova supported the idea of NZ doing something similar.
“Perhaps the government has not quite appreciated just how much NZ citizens have cared about this,” she said.
“They have been so generous with their offers of support and donations. They all care. They all want to help. It’s surprising that the government has not reflected that to date."
Considering further support
According to the UN, more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees have now fled the country.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said the government was considering further support and planned to make an announcement shortly.
As well as the $2m contribution, NZ also provided annual funding to the United Nations central emergency response fund, which was allocated $20m to help humanitarian agencies scale up their Ukraine response.
“The best thing New Zealanders can do to help the people of Ukraine is to donate to an emergency appeal launched by an experienced and trustworthy humanitarian organisation working on the ground," the MFAT spokeswoman said.
Gutorova is a member of Mahi for Ukraine, a group working to provide more support for the embattled country.
Mahi for Ukraine was one of several Ukrainian groups and humanitarian organisations which released an open letter on Thursday calling for NZ to raise its level of humanitarian support to $20m.
Among other requests, the signatories called for an increase in the refugee quota with a special allotment for Ukrainian refugees and for family members of Ukrainians in NZ to be able to come to the country immediately.
On Wednesday, parliament passed a Russia sanctions act giving the government the ability to freeze assets and prohibit dealings with designated individuals and entities.
Foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta has said a first tranche of sanctions under the new act was being worked on at pace and were expected to be made public within the next week.
Gutorova said the scope of the law looked good, but she urged the government to move quickly.
“Our worst fear is that regulations will take weeks to introduce, and we just don’t have that kind of time, especially when we’ve spent two weeks just trying to pass a framework.”
