A Caritas humanitarian aid warehouse has burnt to the ground overnight in Lviv following a Russian attack. Caritas staff were unharmed but an estimated 300 tonnes of humanitarian goods were completely destroyed in the fire, which included food, hygiene kits, generators and clothes.
“On the night of September 19, 2023 Russian troops hit an industrial enterprise in Lviv, where a Caritas-Spes Ukraine humanitarian aid warehouse was located. The Mission’s employees were unharmed, but the warehouse with everything inside burned to the ground,” reads a statement from Fr. Vyacheslav Grynevych SAC, CEO Caritas-Spes Ukraine.
“We will be able to calculate the final details of the losses later, as special services are currently working at the scene. We already know that 33 pallets of food packages, 10 pallets of hygiene kits and canned food, 10 pallets of generators and clothes were destroyed.”
Several items that were destroyed in this warehouse had just arrived earlier that night from Poland. Caritas Poland had hoped the humanitarian parcels would support around 600 families in Ukraine. In the wake of this recent tragedy, Caritas Poland are now organising additional assistance for families in desperate need of humanitarian aid.
“Caritas had been using this warehouse for 1.5 years and, from this place, humanitarian aid was transported further east in Ukraine to those in need. Everything was destroyed. We thank God that there are no casualties among the employees,” said Msgr. Eduard Kava, Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv.
Following this attack, Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Alistair Dutton states: “Russia’s attack on the Caritas Spes-Ukraine warehouse in Lviv last night, destroying 300 tonnes of humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine, is an outrage and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”
OCHA Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, also released a statement condemning “direct attacks or indiscriminate attacks” against humanitarian workers, facilities and assets: “Attacks impacting humanitarian assets have escalated throughout the year and ultimately impact those who are suffering the horrific consequences of the war. Direct attacks or indiscriminate attacks are strictly prohibited. International humanitarian law is not an option, it is an obligation and must be upheld.”
In addition, media outlets also report humanitarian warehouses are being targeted by Russian forces. In May, media reported two warehouses belonging to humanitarian organisations were attacked in the cities of Odesa and Ternopil.
Caritas Internationalis and its local member organisations Caritas-Spes Ukraine and Caritas Ukraine, continue their unwavering commitment to responding to the ongoing humanitarian emergency in Ukraine. The collective efforts of the Caritas humanitarian network have been instrumental in providing vital assistance to affected communities, families and individuals in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
Please continue your support for Caritas work in Ukraine and neighbouring countries: https://www.caritas.org/what-we-do/conflicts-and-disasters/crisis-in-ukraine/