This is the challenge of covering most conflicts around the world and the one that is now being faced in Ukraine where local and foreign journalists are struggling to keep the world informed.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, we launched a special safety fund to help our Ukrainian affiliates and journalists covering the conflict to ensure their safety, but also to help Russian journalists who wish to leave their country. A mission report in early March gave us a list of priorities and that is the basis for our work today.
Our federations have been mobilized by an unprecedented outpouring of solidarity from around the world and help has been organized quickly with the effective support of our Ukrainian affiliates, NUJU and IMTUU, who continue to fight tirelessly to provide logistical, moral and financial support to journalists in Ukraine.
On behalf of the IFJ and EFJ we would like to thank you for your continued support. This war in Ukraine reminds us of the essential foundations of our organisations: solidarity, mutual aid, cohesion and the protection of the fundamental values of journalism.
We can be proud of that.
Anthony Bellanger, IFJ General Secretary
Ricardo Gutierrez, EFJ General Secretary