In the midst of an increasing risk situation, Caritas Ukraine centers continue to serve the civilian population in need. Its 36 offices throughout the country work in coordination with the operational headquarters of the national Caritas, in kyiv and Lviv.
Although some local offices have had to be evacuated for security reasons, especially in the east of the country and some neighborhoods in Kiev, the Caritas centers that remain safe are attending to the internally displaced and, in coordination with other local humanitarian organizations , work to identify the most urgent needs of those affected by the escalation of the war.
Since the beginning of the invasion, Caritas Ukraine has maintained an emergency project to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people. Currently, 11 reception centers (Kramatorsk, Rubizhne, Zaporizhya, Volnovakha, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivk) are being equipped with humanitarian aid to join the emergency response plan.
Caritas Ukraine’s response is prioritizing the distribution of hot food, water, basic hygiene kits, temporary shelter for people who have fled their homes, laundry service and safe transportation for people looking to reunite with relatives in other parts of the country. . The emergency plan also includes attention to special cases (such as the elderly, minors and people with disabilities) and basic emotional support and leisure activities for children that help them maintain normality in the midst of the highly stressful situation caused by the attacks.
Despite precarious security and difficulties, Caritas continues its humanitarian work in Ukraine. As he points out fr. Vyacheslav Grynevych, executive director of Caritas-Spes Ukraine, “our cities, houses and kindergartens have been destroyed. But no one will be able to destroy our aspirations for peace and freedom. “In this dramatic moment, we praise the commitment of the workers and volunteers, who continue to help those who need it,” he adds. “And with God’s help, we will continue our service, leaving no one behind.”
“I am very proud of our teams, who are working hard to be attentive to the needs of the most vulnerable, while simultaneously managing their own personal circumstances. We are very grateful for the support of our sister Caritas and people of good will. Please support our emergency response plan. The needs grow daily ”, she affirms for her part Tetiana StawnychyPresident of Caritas Ukraine
RESPONSE FROM CARITAS FROM ROMANIA, POLAND, MOLDOVA AND BULGARIA
The Caritas of the neighboring countries –Romania, Poland and Moldova- are also activating national reception plans for the flows of Ukrainian refugees who are crossing the borders.
Romania, with more than 600 km of border with Ukraine, has already received some 10,000 refugees and the number is expected to continue increasing in the coming days. The Caritas of Bucharest, Iasi, Maramures and Satu Mare have begun to assess the situation and establish first intervention teams. The national emergency team has visited the border and begun to design intervention plans to define an emergency response program focused on reception and support for reception centers for refugees (information, laundry service, communication service, food and hygiene kits), specific programs for child reception, shelter and temporary accommodation in local parishes and mobilization of volunteers for the reception.
Caritas Poland is also preparing the reception, accommodation and safe transport for refugees, with emergency programs similar to those set up by Caritas in Romania.
For its part, Caritas Moldova, which shares some 1,200 km of border with Ukraine, has launched an emergency plan through its national office, in Chisinau, and the six local Caritas in Grigorauca, Rascov, Ribnita, Stauceni, Stircea and Tiraspol. In total, it has about 200 agents on the ground. In coordination with local authorities, 390 people located in official centers (Chisinau, Ocnita, Palanca) have been supported with food, water, hygiene kits, and social and emotional support. In addition, a center managed by Caritas is being prepared in Chisinau, where to offer dignified and safe accommodation to some 70 refugees, with special attention to minors and women.
Along the same lines, and although it is not a neighboring country, Caritas Bulgaria is also preparing centers to respond to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, who arrive either by land or by ferry from Odessa to the Varna post. As of February 28, it was estimated that more than 7,000 Ukrainians had arrived in the country and this number is expected to increase in the coming days.
All the Cáritas in the region have trained their staff and volunteers in rapid emergency response plans, safeguard protocols and code of conduct.
SPANISH CARITAS RESPONSE
Cáritas Española has been working in Ukraine since 2010, supporting social action and emergency projects. Although at this moment, all these programs are stopped, while waiting for the situation to stabilize, the projects of Caritas Ukraine and the rest of the region are being financially supported to guarantee the safe mobility of people who are forced to flee from war, with special attention to vulnerable people.
Cáritas Española appreciates the innumerable messages of solidarity with Ukraine and the prayers that have been sent to us and that are being transmitted to the sister Caritas of Ukraine and neighboring countries. Likewise, Cáritas Española is not channeling donations in kind to Ukraine, since for the Cáritas in the region it is an unapproachable management.
“CARITAS WITH UKRAINE” CAMPAIGN
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