With the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine last year on February 24, the Caritas network in Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries of Poland, Romania, Moldova, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary, have worked tirelessly to provide humanitarian assistance to more than 5,3 million people impacted by violence and unrest in the eastern European region. The figures were presented this morning during a press conference hosted in Rome by Caritas Internationalis (press conference can be watched online at this link).
“The number of services delivered over the last year is truly remarkable. However, what Caritas gives is much more than assistance. We accompany people before, during and after a crisis happens. We want to continue this work. We want to give that sense of hope and warmth to the suffering in Ukraine,” says Caritas Internationalis Temporary Co-Administrator Amparo Alonso Escobar.
Within Ukraine, over 3 million beneficiaries have received humanitarian support from Caritas Ukraine, and Caritas-Spes combined. Around 3.7 million food and non-food items (NFIs) were provided; 637,000 shelters were offered; 192,000 services of health and psychosocial support were provided; 377,000 protection services were granted; over 1.5 million water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) items were distributed; and 107,600 received cash assistance.
“Every day, every Ukrainian and every Caritas-Spes employee performs a crucial service to save people, and we are not alone in this. We strongly feel your support every day. War is always a tragedy. But at the same time, we have realised that we are not alone. You have been walking with us on this Way of the Cross for 365 days, and we know that you will not leave us alone in the future,” says Secretary General of Caritas-Spes Ukraine Fr. Vyacheslav Grynevych. Fr. Grynevych invited all to join Caritas-Spes Ukraine on February 24 for ‘The 366th station’ prayer of the Way of the Cross at 7 pm (CET time), which will also be streamed online on Caritas Internationalis’ Youtube Channel.
“We have a lot of scars – death, losses, injuries, destroyed houses, infrastructure, psychological traumas, but in our souls we are not victims,” said Mila Leonova, External Relations Coordinator for Caritas Ukraine. “We stand on our ground, we protect our families, we protect what we have created with our hands. And all that we are learning now – solidarity, social cohesion, giving each other a helping hand – creates a good foundation of stability for the future. Because in the future, when we have to rebuild the country from the ruins, it will be even more difficult, and we need the strength to overcome the long-distance race,” she added.
Within the first week of the conflict, among those fleeing Ukraine around 77,000 travelled and queued at the Polish border. Several Caritas staff and volunteers were present there to meet them at “Tents of Hope” where hot food and drinks, medicines, hygiene items, warm clothes and a place to rest were offered. To date, Caritas Poland has delivered over 15.7 million food and non-food items; around 255,000 beneficiaries received protection services; 176,000 were provided shelter; 64,000 beneficiaries received health and psycho-social support; and over 7,287 beneficiaries were granted education services.
Caritas Romania currently has six social service centres for refugees from Ukraine in Bucharest, Baia Mare, Cluj, Iasi, Oradea and Sighetu Marmatiei. To date, around 11,900 beneficiaries were provided with food and non-food items; 2,700 received wash items; 2,600 have had shelter support; 2,500 received protection services; and 537 beneficiaries have obtained education services.
In Moldova, the geographic focus of humanitarian assistance is in and around the capital city of Chisinau, where many refugees have arrived and stayed. Caritas Moldova have provided protection services to 135,000 beneficiaries; delivered 34,300 food and non-food items; 22,600 were granted health and psycho-social support; 10,900 were ensured shelter; and 2,700 wash items.
Over the last year, Caritas Slovakia, through its diocesan network, has provided 66,100 beneficiaries with food and non-food items and 36,500 with wash items; 7,900 beneficiaries received education services and 3,400 protection services; 890 beneficiaries were ensured shelter services; and 140 received health and psycho-social support services.
Since the outbreak of the war, Caritas Czech Republic has provided: 13,300 beneficiaries with food and non-food items; 8,830 beneficiaries with protections services; 4,500 beneficiaries with wash items; 1,170 with health and psycho-social support; 1,000 with education services; and 150 with shelter support. Currently, a goal of Caritas is to find permanent accommodation in apartments instead of temporary solutions for families as well as permanent employment to ensure that children can attend school locally.
Since the onset of the crisis, Caritas Bulgaria – through its diocesan and parish structures and the local Catholic Church – has concentrated its efforts to meet the basic needs of refugees and displaced persons. To date, they have provided 13,700 beneficiaries with protection services; 3,600 beneficiaries with food and non-food items; 1,350 with health and psycho-social support; 870 with shelter support as well as 640 with education services.
Since last year, Caritas Hungary has provided support services at helping points at the country’s borders and in Budapest, as well as rental assistance, voucher assistance and access to economic and social services.
One year on since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Caritas confederation is calling on further solidarity from the international community. Continued support is still necessary for those displaced within Ukraine and those in neighbouring countries who are trying to rebuild their lives following the destruction of their own homes and cities.
Watch the video of the conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elyAxWvxT1k