Cáritas Española will make 1,111 reception places available to Ukrainian families throughout Spain. After a survey of the entire Confederation, an initial commitment was made by 23 diocesan Caritas to welcome refugees forced to leave their homes due to the Russian invasion in various resources and programmes.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian military actions began on 24 February.
In the coming weeks this capacity will be expanded as the diocesan Cáritas will be able to assess their reception capacity. Initially, these thousand places are distributed between homes (587) and reception centers or shelters (524).
emergency help
Cáritas Española has also been present in Ukraine since 2010 through various social action projects. After the Russian invasion, that partnership intensified. A week after the start of the crisis, he sent Caritas Ukraine a first batch of 100,000 euros to meet the basic needs of vulnerable people during their travels.
Cáritas Española also approved the allocation of another 200,000 euros for emergency programs in Moldova and Poland in the face of the massive exodus of the population towards neighboring countries.
As of March 3, 100,000 Ukrainians had crossed the border into Moldova, the poorest country in Europe. It is estimated that 45% of them will remain in the country, using networks of family and friends, government reception centers, the services of social organizations, including the Church itself.
The funds allocated by Cáritas Española to Moldova will be used to condition and expand reception capacity in shelters, ensure safe transportation and offer psychosocial support. With this intervention, which will last 8 months, 9,600 people will be assisted.
In the case of Poland, where the number of displaced already exceeds 1.3 million people, the 100,000 euros sent by Cáritas Española will go towards the distribution of monetary aid so that the refugees can meet their most immediate needs. The program will run for three months and will benefit approximately 5,600 people.
At the border points of Przemysl, Zosin, Hrebenne, Lubaczow and Dorohusk, “Hope (tents)” have been set up, where people can rest, receive food and hot drinks, clothes, basic hygiene kits and basic medicines . “Initially, people arriving at these border points had more resources or family or friends or even a clear idea of where to go. Right now, people need more support, have fewer plans, and fewer resources to find housing,” she says. Carmen Gomez de Barredaresponsible for the Caritas emergency campaign with Ukraine.
“Avalanche of Solidarity”
The support of Cáritas Española for all these interventions is possible thanks to the “avalanche of solidarity” of the entire Spanish society. The coordinator of relations with donors and institutions of Cáritas Española, Maria Angeles Garciapoints out that “the levels of generosity are similar to those recorded during the tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004 and the earthquake in Haiti in 2010”.
Currently, Cáritas Española is not channeling donations in kind to Ukraine, as, according to García, “it is unapproachable management” for Cáritas in the region.
“Although it is impossible for us to predict how the situation will evolve in the coming days, we ask for the solidarity of society so that we can continue to take care of the families who are losing everything in this humanitarian conflict,” he said. she points out.
Anyone who wants to collaborate in the Caritas campaign with Ukraine can do so through Bizum 00089 or through the web www.caritas.es.
SANTANDER EMERGENCY UKRAINE ES8800496791712116009428
CAIXABANK EMERGENCY UKRAINE ES3121005731750200266218
SABADELL EEMERGENCIA UKRAINE S3500810216700002185725
