World Jewish Relief launches £500k emergency appeal for Israelis and Ukrainians traumatised by war

World Jewish Relief is launching a 36-hour emergency fundraising campaign to raise £500,000 for mental health support programmes in Israel and Ukraine, as both countries continue to grapple with the psychological impact of war.

The appeal, titled No Time to Wait, will run on 28 and 29 June and seeks to fund trauma care, therapy services, suicide prevention initiatives and specialist psychological support for people affected by conflict.

The charity said the need for mental health assistance has grown significantly following more than four years of war in Ukraine and the ongoing security crisis in Israel since the 7 October attacks.

In Ukraine, where millions continue to live under the threat of missile and drone strikes, World Jewish Relief said more than 10 million people are estimated to require humanitarian assistance. Around 1,000 Jewish homes have also been seriously damaged during the conflict.

The charity’s recent webinar featuring frontline responders highlighted the continuing impact of the war on civilians, particularly families living in areas exposed to repeated attacks.

Among those receiving support is Yulia, 46, who lives in eastern Ukraine with her two daughters.

“Every air raid alert brings the same fear… will I have time to get my children to safety?” she said.

Years of conflict left her daughter Mariia struggling with anxiety and unable to express her emotions.

“I was afraid of losing my daughter emotionally,” Yulia said.

After receiving psychological support through World Jewish Relief programmes, the family began rebuilding their relationship.

“Now we have finally learned to hear each other,” Yulia says. “For me, that is the greatest gift.”

In Israel, the charity said ongoing rocket attacks, air raid sirens and the wider impact of the war have contributed to a sharp increase in mental health challenges across society, including a heightened risk of suicide.

World Jewish Relief said donations raised through the campaign will help train psychologists, provide counselling and trauma services, and expand support programmes in both countries. Funding will also help repair damaged homes belonging to older people in Ukraine.

Paul Anticoni OBE, chief executive of World Jewish Relief, said: “The psychological toll of war is immense for communities in Israel and Ukraine. We are urgently appealing to our community to provide a lifeline to those in desperate need.”

According to the charity, it has already trained more than 800 psychologists across Israel and Ukraine and provided trauma support to over 50,000 people.

The No Time to Wait campaign runs on 28 and 29 June, with all donations doubled through match funding. More information is available here.