July 12, 2023.- Within the framework of its commitment to provide support to those who need it most, Cáritas has announced today, during the Presentation of its 2022 Regional Report, a significant increase of 12.8% in its investment in the fight against social exclusion in Castilla y León. The increase of more than 4.5 million, for a total of €40,046,290.70, represents a financial effort to face the current challenges. Especially, the humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine and the inflationary crisis that is affecting more and more families.
Thanks to this financial effort, Cáritas has been able to provide care and support to more than 65,000 people in the region. Figures similar to the previous year, which reflect a greater intensity in the accompaniment of those who go to the social reception resources. For this reason, the additional investment has been fundamental to guarantee that the basic needs of food, housing, health care and training are covered. The Report highlights the growing complexity, as well as the challenges associated with social exclusion. This was stated by the president of Cáritas Autonómica de Castilla y León and delegate-director of Cáritas Diocesana de Zamora, Antonio Jesús Martín de Lera, at the ceremony held at the headquarters of the Archbishopric of Valladolid. Next to him was Jesús Fernández González, bishop of Astorga and accompanying bishop of Cáritas Autonómica, who carried out an analysis of the social context that surrounded the action of Cáritas in the Community during 2022.
The year 2022 was especially complicated to carry out the actions in all the programs by the 11 Diocesan Caritas: Astorga, Ávila, Burgos, Ciudad Rodrigo, León, Osma-Soria, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Valladolid and Zamora. That’s why, Cáritas Autonómica would like to thank the more than 4,000 volunteers and 898 workers who are part of the entity in Castilla y León for their effort and commitment. without which it would not be possible to face the challenges that reality marks us. Volunteers and workers, who together with donors and partners are an example of the social significance of values
such as gratuitousness, generosity and compassion.
THE HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY IN UKRAINE
The dire humanitarian situation in Ukraine has had heartbreaking consequences, forcing a third of the population to leave their country, according to data provided by Cáritas Española. As a result, Cáritas has had to increase its budget for international cooperation to deal with this urgent situation.. The trust of donors when it comes to collaborating with this type of humanitarian emergencies is significant. They see in each of the Diocesan Caritas the best way to respond to more or less distant realities.
It is important to highlight that this humanitarian emergency has not made the problems against which Caritas was already fighting in other parts of the world disappear. As the Bishop pointed out: “Cáritas has continued with its social work in many other countries that, although they are further away from us, also need our help.”
THE INFLATIONARY CRISIS
Rising inflation has had a significant impact on the economy of the most vulnerable households, further aggravating their situation of social exclusion. Cáritas has observed how access to adequate food, decent housing and basic services become increasingly difficult challenges for these families to overcome. The data presented in our Regional Report reflect the serious difficulties that the inflationary crisis has imposed on many households. Most of the 27,366 people who went through the Reception program in 2022 demanded help from Cáritas to access basic food, rent payments and receipts for supplies, which are becoming more and more expensive. This situation means that families dedicate an increasing part of their budget to cover the essential expenses of housing and other services, leaving aside other equally important needs.
THE DIGITAL GAP
One of the main budgetary efforts this year has been directed towards reducing the digital divide in Castilla y León. As indicated in the report on social exclusion of the FOESSA Foundation in 2019, the digital divide was one of the main causes of exclusion in the Community. Thanks to the support of the European Funds-Next Generation, Cáritas launched two digitization projects in 2022, which are already beginning to bear fruit throughout this year. These projects seek to facilitate access to technology or its knowledge for the most disadvantaged people. Through the implementation of training programs, equipment acquisition, and improved connectivity, barriers that prevented access to educational, labor, and social opportunities are being broken down.
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