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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Kim oLeary

Irish Red Cross to contact families who promised to help house Ukrainian refugees next week

The Irish Red Cross has said that that it will contact all householders who have pledged accommodation to Ukrainian refugees by next week.

It comes as over 23,000 accommodation pledges have been made since the outbreak of the war.

However, some people have reported not being contacted despite registering their properties weeks ago.

Read more: Fundraiser launched for Leixlip mum in 'life or death' situation in Gran Canaria

Speaking on RTE's Today with Claire Byrne, Head of Fundraising at the Irish Red Cross Charlie Lamson said that there has been an exceptional response from the Irish public - and the scale of the response has presented challenges.

He said: “In the past we would have dealt with, you know, in the order of a few 100 pledges for support following crises in Syria and Afghanistan. We’re at 23,000, 24,000 pledges.

"There has been a huge and rapid adjustment.”

Mr Lamson said the charity has “reached-out” to 5,700 vacant property owners, as well as over 7,000 people who made an offer of shared accommodation.

Mr Lamson said: “This is a fluid, challenging situation. So, we are certainly working to get to as many people as we can as quickly as possible.

“I think at this point we've got the resources that we need. I strongly feel that way and again it took a bit of time to put this together but in terms of getting out to each of those sites and to get people out to those, we are working through that.

“With the collaborations that we have, the processes are in place.”

Meanwhile, Mr Lamson confirmed that over €30 million has been raised through the Irish Red Cross Ukraine appeal since it was launched.

He said most of the money is going to the Ukraine Red Cross to support the work its teams are doing “under unbelievably difficult situations”.

The funds are also providing support to the 4.2 million Ukrainian people who have fled to neighbouring countries since the outbreak of the war.

It comes as Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed that a payment scheme to compensate Irish households that host people fleeing the war zone is on the table.

It is thought we are about to reach breaking point with the number of refugees arriving here expected to pass the 30,000 mark by next weekend.

“Nothing is ruled out,” the Taoiseach said on a state visit to Finland on Saturday.

Last week the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) called on the Government to give holiday home owners €300 to €400 per month to allow their properties to be used by Ukrainian refugees.

Read more: Dublin church set to be turned into 'centre of warmth' for Ukrainian refugees

Read more: Irish Red Cross asks Dubliners to donate cash instead of goods to Ukraine

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