The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has now entered its third month, and as accounts of unspeakable violence continue to mount, millions of people have uprooted their families to flee to safety.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Council, since February 24, an estimated 5.1 million Ukrainians have left their homes. Most of the migrants are currently living in surrounding countries like Poland, Romania, and Hungary.
However, as the war rolls on, these families now need to find more permanent places to call home, and getting there may pose financial challenges.
To assist them in reaching their new homes, iBestTravel is launching a campaign to support Miles4Migrants.
A 501(c)(3) charity, the organization partners with other nonprofits to identify refugees, asylees, and asylum-seekers, along with their immediate family members who have legal approval to travel but cannot afford airfare. Consequently, the organization utilizes donated frequent flyer miles to help those affected by war, persecution, or disaster make it to their new homes.
The donations from this campaign could potentially help a family anywhere in the world, with a current focus on assisting families fleeing Ukraine.
How to Access Help
From now until May 25, iBestTravel will match each donation up to $5,000, totaling $10,000 pledged by the organization.
iBestTravel has previously run a similar campaign to help refugees fleeing Afghanistan, resulting in 500 individuals (143 families) receiving flights to safety, thanks to the generosity of our supporters.
How to Make a Donation
You can pledge your support by visiting the donation page, where you can contribute in various forms, including:
- Frequent flyer miles
- Credit card points
- Travel vouchers/credits
- Cryptocurrency
- Cash donations
- Appreciated stock
Miles4Migrants will match you with a migrant who needs a flight. From there, either Miles4Migrants will use your miles to book the flight, or they will guide you through the process of booking the flight for the individual if your miles have restrictions.
Can I Donate Cash If I Don’t Have Miles?
Absolutely! Cash donations are immensely beneficial to the organization. Although flights are booked with miles, there are still airline fees to secure the reservations. Therefore, cash contributions help cover additional costs, which the organization estimates at approximately $33.80 per person.
