SAINTS have given their backing to the Daily Echo's Ukraine campaign with midfielder Oriol Romeu saying: "We've got to do it."

The Southampton FC player said everyone must act for good in "a moment that no one expected".

It comes as the Echo and Newsquest campaign has raised around £25,000 in just two weeks.

Five pence from every daily newspaper sold on the day of the launch went to the Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian appeal.

Romeu said: "I'm supporting the Daily Echo's There with Ukraine campaign because it's a moment where we all have to stand together, help each other and they need us right now, so hopefully we can get as many things together and give them good help.

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"It's a moment that no one expected and you just feel that people from Ukraine are being treated unfairly - being kicked out from their country and having to move somewhere else.

"It's a moment that now we're luckily in a better position so we can help them - we've got to do it."

The Barcelona academy graduate also opened up about the behind-the-scenes strife when centre-back Lyanco Vojnovic's sister was stuck in Ukraine.

Daily Echo: #ThereWithUkraine#ThereWithUkraine

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl previously said Lyanco was "really not good" as the Brazilian’s sister had to flee the Ukrainian city of Kyiv.

Romeu told the Echo: "It's one of those things you don't realise how tough it can be until you see someone close having to deal with it.

"I've been close with Lyanco when he was having some difficulties he had some really tough days when he didn't know what was going to happen with his sister and his family over there and finally they found a way to get them out and back to their home, their country and that was a relief moment for them.

"Once you see how tough it can be, how stressful and difficult living those experiences - it's something no one wants to go through but it's something that's happening right now.

"We are someone that can help put a little bit of help in there - I think we should do that."

Donate to the Newsquest appeal at justgiving.com/fundraising/therewithukraine

Donations made via JustGiving and use of the JustGiving website will be subject to the JustGiving privacy policy https://www.justgiving.com/about/info/privacy-policy/privacy-policy-v30 and cookie policy https://www.justgiving.com/about/info/cookie-notice 

None of the donation will be collected by Newsquest. Financial transactions are with JustGiving to donate to the British Red Cross Society DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross Society raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.

For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund

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