Canadian Red Cross

Background information, language guidance, and available content

Ukraine humanitarian crisis
Last updated: July 10, 2023

For internal awareness only. Not for external distribution.

The following information is provided to help build an understanding how we discuss this
humanitarian crisis and the response of the respective entities of the Red Cross Movement.

Content
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Background information

Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine

Since October 2021, Russian military presence has been increasing tensions along the
Ukrainian border with Russia, causing a resurgence of the international armed conflict that
began with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which the United Nations General Assembly
declared illegal.

On February 24, 2022, Russian forces breached Ukraine's border, igniting far-reaching attacks
across the country. These actions came days after the Russian Duma voted to recognize the
independence of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine.

On September 30, 2022, Russian President, Vladmir Putin, announced and signed decrees on
the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia after holding referendums in
these territories between September 23 and 27. Signing of the constitutional laws ratifying the
admission of the four territories to the Russian Federation by President Putin on October 5 was
swiftly followed by changes on the ground, for example with the appointment of governors, and
the removal of border customs controls between Russia and Luhansk/Donetsk as well as
Kherson and Crimea.

While many in the country have been seeking shelter or sheltering in place, the conflict has also
caused large-scale displacement of those living in Ukraine both within the country and into
neighbouring countries. The biggest needs are for financial assistance, access to health care,
psychosocial support, and food and clean water. As winter temperatures compound daily
hardships, winterization items like stoves, fuel and warm clothing have become critical as well.

This large-scale displacement continues to pose an increased risk of family separation and
people being exploited, abused or trafficked. It also makes it more likely that people will be
unable to receive treatment for chronic illnesses, and that access to sexual, reproductive and
maternal health care, antenatal care, child health, and assistance to people with disabilities to
be disrupted.
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR EXTERNAL DISTIRBUTION

Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement includes the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC) and 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) works to
coordinate and support the work of National Societies and fulfills its potential as an engaged,
accountable, and trusted humanitarian organization on a global scale.

Founded in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and armed
violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war. The work of the ICRC is based on
the Geneva Conventions of 1949.

The IFRC and ICRC, as well as over 42 National Societies including the Ukrainian Red Cross
Society, are supporting the regional response to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis, as one Red
Cross

Language guidance

It is important to give visibility to the humanitarian situation and the work of the Red Cross Red
Crescent Movement in Ukraine and surrounding countries. The context requires a careful
communication approach on several sensitive issues.

Spelling and pronunciation of places:

- Spelling of places is crucial. For the sake of consistency, Red Cross uses the Ukrainian
spelling for English content: Kyiv, Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, etc.
- Pronunciation of Lviv is ‘le-VEEV”, pronunciation of Kyiv is “kay-EEV”

Referring to territories:
- Don't use "the Ukraine" for the country, use “Ukraine”.
- Do not use “the people of Ukraine,” "Eastern Ukraine", LPR (Luhansk People’s
Republic), DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and NGCA (non-government-controlled
areas).
- Don't use "separatism", “annexation” or "occupation”, “occupied territories” or “liberated
territories“. Use “areas not controlled by the Ukrainian government” and/or name
places and cities directly: “Donbas”, “Luhansk”, “Donetsk”, “Kherson”, and
“Zaporizhzhia”.
- Use "front line" instead of “line of contact”
- To capture that people are affected by the international armed conflict on either side of
the frontline, we’re also talking about our activities “across Ukraine”.

-
Referring to the international armed conflict:

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- Use “conflict” or “armed conflict”, not “war” (except in expression like “prisoners of war”
(PoW), or “rules of war”).
- The conflict can be referred to as the “international armed conflict” (between Russia
and Ukraine), the “Russia-Ukraine international armed conflict” (for formal use and
always with countries in alphabetical order), or the “armed conflict between Russia
and Ukraine”.
- We consider the international armed conflict has been ongoing since 2014. Therefore,
do not refer to February 2022 as the beginning of the international armed conflict and opt
for wording such as: “since the escalation/intensification of the international armed
conflict”.

Referring to the situation:

- Don’t refer to the situation as the “Ukraine crisis”, but as the “humanitarian crisis in
Ukraine”.
- When describing the current events, use “hostilities” or “violence” instead of “shelling”
and “fighting”.
- In case of shelling or attack, and unless we can confirm them directly, we will
always speak of “reported/alleged shelling/bombing” to avoid unintended public
denunciation.

Referring to the people:

- Avoid using the term “Ukrainians” as a generic term, as not all people impacted by this
crisis are Ukrainians. Use “people affected by the conflict in Ukraine”, “people who
have left/fled Ukraine”, “people who have been displaced”, etc.
- We use the term “displaced” for all people on the move or fleeing due to the armed
conflict and avoid the term “refugees” as it can be sensitive when borders are disputed.
- To refer to civilians and members of the armed forces deprived of their liberty for
reasons linked to the conflict, use and “civilian internees” and “Prisoners of War
(PoWs)” as these are the adequate legal terminology in an international armed conflict.
Do not use “detention/detained/detainees”.
- When talking about the sensitive issue of “unaccompanied and separated children”,
use this terminology rather than “deported Ukrainian children” or other inflammatory
language.
- Use person-first language to refer to people Red Cross is helping, for example:
o Use “person with a disability/people with disabilities” do not use
“handicapped” or “disabled”.
o Use “a person experiencing mental illness”, do not use “a mentally ill person”
or “a disabled person”.
o Use “people we have helped/assisted” or “people we serve”, do not use
“beneficiaries”.
o Try to use “marginalized people/people who are discriminated against/
excluded people”, do not use “vulnerable people” or “victim”.
o Use “people struggling with mental health and psychosocial wellbeing”
Avoid using trauma or traumatized, unless communicating a specific diagnosis.

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Referring to the parties:

- “Parties to the conflict”, “sides”, “Russian and Ukrainian authorities” are
acceptable ways to talk about the authorities.

Red Cross activities:

- We do not speak of “humanitarian corridors” as this terminology doesn’t exist in the
Geneva Convention, but rather of “safe passage operations”.
- Forensic activities are also particularly sensitive and to avoid any sense of transaction in
our communication, we advise to use “hand over/repatriation of human remains” and
not “exchange of dead bodies”.
- When speaking about our work with National Societies, emphasize “capacity
strengthening” instead of “capacity building”.
Protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) terminology
- Protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) is a term that describes the work within the Red
Cross and its network to address PGI in all operations. It includes ensuring all our work
is safe for the people we serve (safeguarding, see below), minimum standards to
mainstream across sectors, and stand-alone programming on sexual and gender-based
violence (SGBV), trafficking, and child protection.
- Use “Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)” not “rape”.
o Sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a PGI term that describes all
forms of sexual violence against adults or children.
- “Safeguarding” describes Red Cross organizational commitments to specifically ensure
our personnel do not abuse or exploit adults or children that we interact with.

Available content

 CRC website, Conflict in Ukraine – Response in Europe and in Canada

Stories/blogs

 March 19, 2023, The mind-body connection: Providing mental health support in Ukraine
(Blog)
 February 15, 2023, Heartbreak and hope: One year of conflict in Ukraine
 November 18, 2022, During evacuations, railway stations in Ukraine act as a place of
temporary refuge for people who are in transit (Facebook)
 August 29, 2022, Deputy Head of the of Cherkasy branch smiles as she shares her
son's story of joining the local Red Cross as a volunteer (Facebook)
 August 24, 2022, The Maternity Centre “Unbroken Mothers in Lviv offers internally
displaced pregnant women and their children safe living accommodations during the
conflict in Ukraine (Twitter thread)
 July 8, 2022, Volunteering to help after leaving Ukraine (Blog)
 July 5, 2022, Ukrainian refugee is taking Slovak language courses at a local Red Cross
branch in Slovakia (Instagram)
 June 13, 2022, Moldova Red Cross distributes hygiene kits and blankets (Twitter)

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 June11, 2022, Red Cross volunteers are providing psychosocial support for children
(LinkedIn)
 June 9, 2022, What the conflict in Ukraine means for food security (Blog)
 June 8, 2022, Ukraine Red Cross volunteers are helping evacuate people most at-risk to
safety (Twitter)
 May 30, 2022, Dariia fled from Ukraine and is now volunteering with Polish Red Cross
(Instagram)
 May 27, 2022, A day at Gara de Nord: Supporting refugees from Ukraine during their
journey
 May 18, 2022, URCS volunteer Bogdan (Instagram)
 May 15, 2022, Ukrainian refugee Irina volunteers with the Polish Red Cross (Facebook)
 May 1, 2022, Post featuring Canadian Red Cross delegate, Daniela Vergara (Instagram)
 April 27, 2022, Red Cross in action: How we are reaching people in Ukraine and
surrounding countries (Blog)
 April 24, 2022, Tapping into local expertise to help people impacted by the conflict in
Ukraine (Blog)
 April 11, 2022, Distributing hygiene kits in Uzhhorod (LinkedIn)
 April 11, 2022, Creative fundraisers: The many ways Canadians are helping those in
Ukraine and surrounding countries (Blog)
 April 7, 2022, Slovak border with Ukraine support to people displaced (Instagram)
 March 24, 2022, Ukraine conflict: Red Cross provides much-needed support to people
leaving the country (Blog)
 March 14, 2022, The Red Cross is responding to meet the growing humanitarian needs
in Ukraine and neighbouring countries (Blog)
 March 2, 2022, How Canadians can help in a humanitarian crisis: Ukraine and
surrounding countries (Blog)
 February 24, 2022, Conflict in Ukraine could have dire humanitarian consequences (Red
Cross story)

Photos

 Available on the DAM:

https://dam-mediatheque.redcross-croixrouge.ca/assetbank-crc/images/assetbox/
af76a2b2-eea3-4b29-9857-fcaf3c95985b/assetbox.html
o Please check with communications before sharing these with external partners.

Videos

 May 17, 2023, Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine: ICRC Access to Education Program
(YouTube)
 April 11, 2023, Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine: distribution of humanitarian aid to
displaced people #shorts (YouTube)

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 March 14, 2023, Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine - a team of psychotherapists support

people impacted by the conflict (YouTube)
 February 23, 2023, Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: overview of the past year of the
international armed conflict (YouTube)
 February 23, 2023, Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: Red Cross provides wood-burning
stoves to help keep people warm (YouTube)
 February 15, 2023, Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: A mobile health unit visits Stetsivka to
provide health services (YouTube)
 February 15, 2023, Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: how Red Cross reaches affected
people through its Mobile Health Units (YouTube)
 February 15, 2023, Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: An internally displaced family finds
safety at the Gusakove shelter (YouTube)
 February 8, 2023, B-roll of the context of the Ukraine humanitarian crisis one year on
and the support from the Mobile Health Units operated by the Ukrainian Red Cross
Cherkasy branch with support from the Canadian Red Cross
 November 30, 2022, Unbreakable Mothers: a Mother and Child Center in Lviv, Ukraine
(YouTube)
 November 28, 2022, Ukraine Crisis: Red Cross supports winterization preparedness
(YouTube)
 November 4, 2022, Supporting Mobile Health Units in Ukraine (YouTube)
 October 25, 2022, Repairing a children’s hospital in time for winter (YouTube)
 October 6, 2022, Canadian Red Cross supports Mobile Health units in Ukraine
(YouTube)
 September 9, 2022, Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: Follow the journey of Askar arriving in
Ukraine – Part 3 (YouTube)
 September 8, 2022, Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: Follow the journey of Askar arriving in
Ukraine – Part 2 (YouTube)
 September 1, 2022, Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: Follow the journey of Askar from
Poland to Ukraine - Part 1 (YouTube)
 August 26, 2022, B-roll of the context of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the
activities of the International Red Cross Movement, including Canadian Red Cross and
the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.
 August 14, 2022, Michelle Marteleira on why Community Engagement and
Accountability is important in emergencies and disasters (YouTube)
 August 11, 2022, A Red Cross safe space for women and children fleeing the hostilities
in Ukraine was set up in Gara de Nord in Bucharest, Romania (Facebook)
 May 7, 2022, Daniela Vergara leading a cash and voucher assistance training
(Facebook)
 April 20, 2022, Kathy Mueller in Moldova (Twitter)
 April 18, 2022, Sára and her family staying at a helping centre run by Hungarian Red
Cross in Szeged (Instagram)
 April 9, 2022, Tatiana and her 2 year old son face impossible choices fleeing Ukraine
(Facebook)
 April 5, 2022, Video update from Jenn Vibert at BOK Stadium in Budapest (Instagram)

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 April 1, 2022, Red Cross branch in Uzhhorod, Ukraine supports people who are
internally displaced (YouTube - Footage by Canadian delegate, Marko Kokic)
 March 28, 2022, Video of Ukrainian Red Cross volunteers (Instagram)
 March 21, 2022, Red Cross responds to humanitarian needs in Hungary in response to
the Ukraine Crisis (YouTube)
 March 18, 2022, ICRC convoy carrying 200 tons of humanitarian aid reaches Ukraine
(YouTube)
 March 10, 2022, Canadian Red Cross humanitarian worker provides support to people
fleeing Ukraine (YouTube)
 March 8, 2022, Ukraine: Despite fierce fighting raging, the ICRC responds to the most
urgent needs in Mariupol (ICRC Newsroom)
 March 7, 2022, How you can help those affected by ongoing conflict in Ukraine
(YouTube)
 March 6, 2022, 4 reasons why donating funds is the best way to help in an emergency or
crisis (YouTube)
 March 5, 2022, Red Cross teams in surrounding countries help those arriving from
Ukraine (YouTube)

Media

 June, 19, 2023, Canadian Red Cross funding medical clinics for displaced in Ukraine: ‘A
bit of help’ in the Toronto Star
 May 17, 2022,Angela Hill, Red Cross delegate talks about assisting displaced
Ukrainians on The Daily Edition
 April 25, 2022,Angela Hill on CBC Saskatoon Morning
 April 6, 2022,CBC The Current interview with ICRC’s Robert Mardini (starts at 47:00)
 March 27, 2022,Dominik Stillhart interview with Canadian Press
 March 23, 2022,Kathy Mueller interview with CTV Barrie
 Kathy Mueller interview with CTV News London
 On the Ukrainian border: London aid worker helping families fleeing war
 Kelsey Lemon interview with CTV News Channel
 Kelsey Lemon interview with CTV Morning Live Ottawa

Conrad in Ukraine and surrounding countries

 In the field with Conrad: Polish Red Cross supports people impacted by the
humanitarian crisis in Ukraine (Facebook)
 In the field with Conrad: How Red Cross provide life-saving aid in Ukraine (YouTube)
 In the field with Conrad: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis (YouTube)
 Meeting with Ukrainian Red Cross (LinkedIn)
 Meeting with Canadian Ambassador to Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova (LinkedIn)
 In the field (Instagram)

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