Geneva: British music stars Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran, US basketball legend Shaquille O´Neal and other celebrities will donate personal objects for a campaign launched Saturday to support healthcare in Ukraine.
Seven months into Russia´s war, the WHO Foundation — an independent organisation that works to raise funds to support the UN health agency´s work addressing global health crises — launched the “Human Kind” e-store, where fans can try to win items donated by their favourite celebrities, media reports said.
The funds raised will go towards supporting WHO´s actions in war-ravaged Ukraine and neighbouring countries, the foundation said, adding that it aimed to raise $53.7 million.
Harry Styles has donated a signed vinyl, while Shaquille O´Neal, Ukrainian footballer Vitaliy Mykolenko and other sports legends have donated signed shirts and jerseys.
Wladimir Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion and brother of Kyiv´s mayor, has donated a boxing glove.
The star-studded line-up also includes British singer Ellie Goulding and American artist Shepard Fairey.
British pop legend Annie Lennox, who donated a pair of iconic sunglasses, said images from Ukraine, including of women giving birth in basements, were “profoundly shocking.”
“I encourage everyone to do what they can to support the people of Ukraine through this crisis,” she said in the foundation´s statement, insisting that “healthcare is a human right that all deserve access to.”
Since Moscow invaded its western neighbour on February 24, the WHO has verified 550 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine.
The WHO said it has so far helped deliver 1,300 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Ukraine, including kits for blood transfusions, essential medicines, ambulances, oxygen, and surgical equipment.
