David and Victoria Beckham have pledged one million pounds (1.2 million euros) to provide immediate aid to the people of Ukraine.
The retired footballer, 46, made an urgent appeal through his ‘7’ Fund for UNICEF to help provide support for affected children in the war-torn country.
And sources close to the couple revealed to the DailyMail that David and Victoria have donated one million pounds (€1.2 million) of their own money to the charity initiative. Dailymail.
Their friend said: “David and Victoria personally donated one million pounds (€1.2m) to the emergency appeal set up through David’s dedicated ‘7’ Fund for UNICEF. They wanted to do everything they could to help UNICEF in their work on the ground in Ukraine.
“David has been a goodwill ambassador for 17 years and raises millions a year to support UNICEF and their work for children around the world,” the source said.
“This is in addition to the projects he finances under the umbrella of his ‘7’ Fund, which aims to support children around the world, especially girls, to realize their potential,” said the source close to the couple.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, David said: “Like you, I have watched the situation in Ukraine unfold with horror and disbelief.”
“Mothers are forced to flee with their children. Broken families. Children taken from their beds to become refugees overnight,” said the former footballer.
“With my family safe around me, I felt the helplessness we all share when faced with scenes of despair,” he said.
He continued: “Victoria and I have made a donation on behalf of our family to start the appeal. We would be very grateful if you could join us in helping UNICEF support these children. Please give what you can today.”
David added in the caption: “As the conflict in Ukraine enters its second week, the needs of families are escalating and 7.5 million children are now at risk.”
“Today, on International Women’s Day, my ‘7’ Fund for UNICEF is launching an Emergency Appeal to help provide immediate assistance to support children’s well-being, including medical supplies and safe spaces for families.”
“Please join me in supporting UNICEF in their vital work on the ground and give what you can.”
David has been a UNICEF UK ambassador since 2005, and in 2015 he founded ‘7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund’.
It comes as desperate Ukrainian refugees face a punishing cold snap as temperatures plunged well below freezing this week, which will also bring bitter conditions for Putin’s men, who are scattered across the country with limited access in shelters while his invasion stops.
Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s two biggest cities, where intense fighting and shelling have continued in recent days, will see overnight lows of around -10C this week down to -20C with wind chills, the BBC reports.
Many civilians in those cities are currently without heat due to heavy shelling by Russian troops.
But Putin’s forces also lack shelter from the cold, with thousands thought to be trapped in a 40-mile convoy that has stalled near Kiev after running out of supplies.
In recent days there have been multiple reports of Russians complaining of a lack of equipment, food and shelter – conditions that look set to worsen.
Kiev claimed on Tuesday that 12,000 Russian troops have now died fighting in Ukraine, while 300 tanks have been destroyed along with more than 1,000 armored vehicles, 48 planes, 80 helicopters and three ships.
Moscow has acknowledged the losses but has not given a recent update. Ukrainian losses are unknown. /Telegraph/
