The war in Ukraine is having devastating effects inside and outside the country. After a year of conflict, more than eight million people have been forced to leave Ukraine, while another seven million are internally displaced. The Russian invasion is further contributing to a global economic and humanitarian crisis unprecedented in our recent history. The dramatic escalation of food insecurity and the dizzying increase in the prices of essential products are affecting, above all, populations in forgotten crises, such as those in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.
Faced with the enormous global suffering caused by this war, Cáritas Española joins the constant call for peace promoted by the Pope Francisco y Charity International since the start of the war.
With the aim of responding to one of the worst humanitarian emergencies and the largest current crisis of displaced persons in the world, Cáritas Española has managed to mobilize more than five million euros in the last twelve months. These funds have been channeled through the aid request mechanisms of the national Caritas affected by the war and coordinated by the emergency committee of Caritas Internationalis.
“Thank you for walking with us”
“The support of Cáritas Española is being essential to attend to the emergency. With your help we are managing to meet the basic needs of many people who have had to leave their homes. A third of the population remains displaced. That is why it is so important to be able to offer them a hot meal or a place for them to sleep during their escape. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for walking with us and for accompanying us,” he says. Tetiana Stawnychypresident of Caritas Ukraine in a video message sent to Cáritas Española, on the first anniversary of the Russian military occupation.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the two Caritas operating in the country – Caritas Ukraine and Caritas Spes-Ukraine – have provided emergency humanitarian aid to more than six million people. Most of the aid provided is related to the distribution of food and household items (53.91%), water and sanitation (22.32%), accommodation (9.25%), protection (5.47%), care socio-sanitary and psychosocial support (2.8%), cash (1.56%) and other services (4.68%).
After a year of fighting, it is estimated that more than 18 million people are still in need of emergency humanitarian aid in Ukraine. “This conflict has gone on for far too long. Caritas is working to ‘Restore Home, Restore Hope’ for millions of people suffering as a result of this war. We need immediate peace, which will finally allow Ukrainians to start rebuilding their lives and their country,” he explains. Carmen Gomez de Barredaresponsible for the ‘Caritas with Ukraine’ campaign.
Response in Spain
Networking has made it possible over the last year to attend to people both at origin, in transit and at their final destination. In Spain, the action of the Caritas Confederation to welcome and accompany individuals and families from Ukraine has also been a substantial part of our response to the emergency. Until December of last year, the network of diocesan Caritas had served 5,378 Ukrainian people. Another 10,274 had received help indirectly.
Among the aid that was provided, most were related to food and clothing. In total, 13,549 actions were carried out to facilitate access to these basic needs, either through direct delivery or through cash cards. 891 procedures were also carried out to facilitate access to accommodation through payment of housing rent, shelter in a parish residence or access to shelters. The third field of action was that of employment, with 2,824 actions related to orientation, training for employment, the design of a labor insertion plan or pre-employment training workshops.
“The international protection system has assumed the bulk of the demands of individuals and families from Ukraine. Its operation to provide accommodation has been agile and efficient. In a subsidiary manner, the diocesan Cáritas have invested more than 800,000 euros to carry out assistance and reception actions for these people and families”, he explains. Hilde Damscoordinator of the Cáritas Española Social Inclusion team.
A caring society
Twelve months after its launch, the Cáritas Española fundraising campaign in favor of Ukraine has managed to raise more than 20 million euros, of which 8.3 million have been contributed by the diocesan Cáritas.
“Since the beginning of the crisis, Spanish society has relied on the Caritas network to support victims of war. We appreciate once again the enormous solidarity of donors, institutions and companies. Throughout the Confederation we are very aware of the great responsibility that comes with living up to the trust that society places in Cáritas”, he explains. Maria Angeles Garciacoordinator of the Cáritas Española Donors and Business Relations team.
Cáritas Española has been present in Ukraine since 2010 through various social action projects. “Caritas was in Ukraine before, it is now and it will continue to be there when the conflict and the media attention are over. The funds that we are managing to raise will be invested in this long-distance race run by Cáritas because the reconstruction of the country will require a lot of time and effort”, explains Gómez de Barreda.
at the border
The Caritas of neighboring countries – such as Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Hungary – have also actively participated in welcoming and helping the millions of refugees who have left the country. It is estimated that more than half -3.5 million people- remain in the border countries.
Throughout this first year of contention, the Caritas of the neighboring countries have been adapting their activity to the evolution of the situation. Between March and the summer they focused above all on the first reception and attention to the wave of refugees. However, as of the summer, the flow of displaced people has stabilized, which is why they have opted to develop programs focused on integration and medium-term care.
