Millions of refugees around the world are again facing extreme challenges this winter – cold and food shortages make aid absolutely essential. For a year now, the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine has made the situation of vulnerable people there and those fleeing even more difficult. As musical ambassadors for UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe, the German partner of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Berliner Philharmoniker and their chief conductor Kirill Petrenko are once again appealing explicitly throughout February for life-saving support for refugees in this situation through donations for urgently needed winter aid.
At all Berliner Philharmoniker concerts, the audience can obtain information about the organisation’s work and make donations at stands in the foyer run by UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe.
Kirill Petrenko, chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker, has appealed for further donations in a video statement: “There are so many places in the world where people can no longer live, they have to leave their homes and set off into an uncertain future. In particular, we are witnessing today a tragedy in Ukraine. But also in countries like Afghanistan, the humanitarian situation is bad. And so, as ambassadors of UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe, we ask for your donations. The refugees must continue to be helped, they must continue to be welcomed by us and treated humanely. We must give them hope and the chance of a humane life. Please continue to donate, please keep up the good work and support us so that we can help refugees.”
“Conflicts, human rights violations, environmental disasters – all over the world people are being forced to leave their homes. We must do everything we can to support the more than 100 million people who have been uprooted. We are all the more grateful to the entire team of the Berliner Philharmoniker for their tremendous and sustained commitment,” says Peter Ruhenstroth-Bauer, national director of UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe.
As part of this fundraising month, the Kulturkaufhaus Dussmann is also supporting the winter campaign and partnership of the Berliner Philharmoniker and UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe, and is ensuring visibility of the joint mission through various campaigns.
On its website, the orchestra provides information about the current campaigns, and here you can also find the account where donations can be made. Further information on the UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe Winter Campaign can be found on the aid organisation’s website.