CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE. Central & Eastern European Travel Retail Association (CEETRA) Chairman Andrzej Miłaszewicz has highlighted how the organisation’s members are supporting those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Miłaszewicz – who is also the CEO of Lagardère Duty Free Poland – noted that CEETRA member activities are clustered around main borders, airports and rail stations and as such are well placed to provide assistance.
Some of the ways CEETRA members are helping, Miłaszewicz pointed out, include providing free food, drinks and washing facilities and converting offices to accommodation for refugees.
He also noted that assistance is being provided for refugee applications, onward travel and the sending and receiving of welfare packages.
In a statement, Miłaszewicz said: “The Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the exodus of some six million refugees fleeing the war and devastation, has placed CEETRA members at borders, airports, and train stations at the very centre of the refugee crisis.
“Each of the members I have spoken to has become very engaged, and I want to highlight the efforts which are underway to help our many Ukrainian colleagues in travel retail, many of whom have had to leave their homes and loved ones.”
He added: “I also want to bring clarity to how CEETRA member enterprises are doing everything they can to help.”
CEETRA now plans to publish a series of social media posts highlighting the efforts of members in providing Ukraine crisis support.
Of this, Miłaszewicz said: “CEETRA members are also directly assisting their own affected employees who have families in Ukraine, including the provision of leave of absence to many who have had their lives turned upside down.
“These accounts, and specific examples of how CEETRA travel retail partners are getting engaged, are being published as a series on LinkedIn.”
He concluded: “In speaking with CEETRA members it is clear they are doing everything possible and more, and I salute the men and women working long hours to assist the families affected by this terrible war.”
CEETRA recommends the following aid organisations and NGOs, which would welcome travel retail donations to support their work:
https://pomagamukrainie.gov.pl/
https://segelyszervezet.hu/en/
Note: The Moodie Davitt Report recently launched the publication Travel Retail United, a humanitarian project to support the people of Ukraine. You can read it here.
Individuals and companies can still contribute to the industry fundraising drive through a Just Giving page, which can be accessed at this link. Donations of any amount are welcome.
