21 March 2022

Coeliac UK is a proud member of the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS), and after looking into the best way to help Ukrainian people with coeliac disease, we are supporting the launch of the AOECS Central Emergency Fund for Ukraine.

The fund has been created to help National Coeliac Societies, particularly in the neighbouring countries to Ukraine, to provide practical support including gluten free food to those who need it. With over €50,000 so far donated to the fund, local societies have already been able to provide food and other support to people inside Ukraine and to refugees, yet much work remains to be done to cope with the massive stream of refugees and the increasing difficulties of finding gluten free food inside Ukraine.

As our community know all too well, the gluten free diet is not a choice but an essential medical treatment. Ukrainians with coeliac disease need this food to function – so they can focus on keeping themselves and their families safe and they need our help. Coeliac UK will be matching donations from our community up to £10,000 – all funds will be passed on to the AOECS fund. 

How to donate

It’s quick and easy to donate via the form below.

How will donations be used?

Donations will go to the coeliac societies in countries closest to Ukraine, who are best placed to get food to the right people. The funds will be used to:

• arrange and deliver gluten free food to people with coeliac disease in Ukraine, initially led by the Polish Coeliac Society in close coordination with the Ukrainian Coeliac Society
• arrange and deliver gluten free food to coeliac refugees in those countries that are welcoming them
• provide Ukrainian coeliac refugees and other humanitarian agencies with advice on the specifics of the gluten free diet in hosting countries, support and gathering events to help alleviate some of the stress

Why money instead of food?

At the moment, there is no shortage of gluten free food thanks to donations from regional food producers mainly situated in Poland, Latvia, Hungary and Romania. In future, food may be required, but right now funds are needed to provide the necessary aid to:

• Cover costs for storing non-perishable gluten free food products
• Manage costs for arranging transportation and logistics for sending gluten free food to Ukraine
• Cover additional human resources costs

What else is Coeliac UK doing to help?

At the moment, supporting the AOECS Central Emergency Fund is the best way to make sure that Ukrainian people with coeliac disease get the help they need. However, we are continually monitoring the situation along with AOECS, and will let our community and partners know if there are other ways to help.

Keep an eye on social media and our website for updates.

Who is AOECS?

AOECS is an international non-profit organisation that represents the voice of 39 national coeliac societies from 34 different countries. They work to make life better for people affected by coeliac disease.