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As the situation in the Eastern parts of Ukraine is becoming a large-scale humanitarian crisis, Caritas Ukraine has increased to 5 the number of relief programmes.
It started with a series of programmes to cover the needs of victims and families of the deceased during the EuroMaidan protests that lasted from November 2013 to February 2014. Then came the Russian annexation of Crimea, and Caritas Ukraine expanded its services to welcoming and sheltering those Crimean that fled the violence in the peninsula. After that the initial small-scale effects of the unrest in the Eastern oblasts of Ukraine were inmediately integrated in the existing programmes. Unfortunately, the situation in the Eastern oblasts has evolved into a humanitarian crisis of a scale that requires a programme on its own.
The human cost of these series of crisis
- During the EuroMaidan protests across the country between November 2013 and February 2014, more than 2200 people were injured, over 167 killed and 1829 are still missing since then.
- According to the UNHCR, 15,845 IDPs from Crimea have fled their home since the annexation.
- Same source indicates that there are now 600,000 IDPs from theEastern oblasts.
- UNHCR also reports that some 300,000 Ukrainians have left the country. Of them, 260,015 to Russia.
- So far, the conflict in Eastern Ukraine has killed over 5000 people, wounded 6500 and 459 are missing.
Caritas Ukraine has responded to these tragic conflicts with the following 5 large-scale relief programmes:
All of our projects focus primarily on people with disabilities, low-income, and large families – its our approach
Nadiya Chorna-Bokhniak, Public Relationship Manager at Caritas Ukraine
5 ways Caritas Ukraine helped
Helping: 60 of the most needy people.
Between April -July 2014, Caritas Ukraine provided assistance to the most needy on the basis of reports from Caritas Ukraine’s regional organisations in Kyiv, Lviv, Ternopil, Kolomyia, Novovolynsk, Brody and Boryslav. Among the people who received help, some were injured during the unrest and others were people in severe economic deprivation that needed acute help and support.
The provided assistance covered the following areas:
- Social (social follow-up, payment for services on lost documents recovery, consultations and information support);
- Material (purchasing of household appliances, construction materials for repair works, food packages, clothes and shoes);
- Medical (purchasing medicines, payment for medical examinations, health treatment, and dental services.)
Total project budget amounts to 691,148 UAH (€39,385).
Helping: 80 severily injuried people so far – but aiming at 200 people.
This programme focuses on people coming from difficult socio-economic situations that were seriously wounded and are now in acute need of decent rehabilitation programmes. Including both medical, psychological, social and material care.
To ensure the high-quality and efficiency of the programme, Caritas Ukraine cooperates with clinics and hospitals in Ukraine and abroad. There also is an ongoing collaboration with initiative groups of EuroMaidan volunteers. Caritas Ukraine workers are also actively discussing with with the clinics and hospitals to optimise expenses and to find additional sponsors to ensure the long-term sustainability of this programme.
Between October and December, Caritas Ukraine will support treatments and rehabilitations for almost 40 seriously wounded people. This will include, among other things, specialised treatment of spine and head injuries caused by gunshot wounds.
Total project budget amounts to 2,100,000 UAH (€129,987). As of 20.10.2014 1,59 mln. UAH (103,978 EUR) have been spent.
Helping: 580 people
This programme offers long-term psychological and psychotherapeutic assistance. It is based on team and face-to-face work with victims, their family members and those who witnessed traumatic events during the mass protests.
Qualified specialists from the regional Caritas organisations are implementing the programme. Namely in Kyiv, Kolomyia, Novovolynsk, and Drohobych.
The quality of the programme is supervised by 17 psychologists and psychotherapists in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. Caritas Ukraine is also engaged in an active cooperation with Ukrainian Catholic University.
Total budget 1,010,000 UAH (€57,539). 750 000 UAH (€42,726) of the total budget are earmarked for psychological help. As of 14.10.2014 nearly 365,840 UAH were spent for rendering of psychological assistance services; 53,044 UAH – for educational seminars and printing of materials.
Helping: at least 3000 IDPs
This programme provides safe and dignified life for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who fled to the Western regions of Ukraine. This is done by:
- Securing basic needs of IDPs in terms of food, clothes and shoes, hygiene kits, and also accommodation and transportation;
- Providing legal assistance such as counseling and support in preparing documents;
- Ensuring social follow-up such as assistance in adaptating to new town/village, help in search of employment;
- Offering psychological support and consultations, including preliminary diagnostics, team and face-to-face work with children and adults.
Caritas Ukraine bases this programme on a personalised approach to each case. Priority and most of the attention is given on pregnant women, large families and families with physically challenged and elderly people.
The programme is running through the helping structures of the regional Caritas organisations in Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kolomyia, Novovolynsk, Drohobych, and Sokal. Caritas has also opened 3 more assisstance centres in Kyiv, Odessa and Kharkiv.
The total budget of the project amounts to 11,500,000 UAH (€700,000). As of 30.09.2014 nearly 3,400,000 UAH were used.
a. Assistance to war-affected populations in the East
Since the beginning of the unrests in the Eastern oblasts of Ukraine, Caritas Ukraine is focusing its activities on assisting the most in need in the oblasts of Donetsk and Luhanska. 5,2 million people are living in the area.
Caritas Ukraine has provided over 15,000 people with more than 110,000 liters of drinking waterin the towns of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk as water supply was damaged during combats.
In the beginning of October 2014, Cariats Ukraine organised the delivery of more than 19,000 liters of drinking water to the 800 inhabitants of the town of Vuhledar.
Caritas also provided basic needs such as desinfection products to several educational and medical establishments in Slovyansk to help them cut costs. Caritas also ensured that 360 IDP children received the necessary school materials to attend classes in Svyatogirsk.
Despite the violence and insecurity in Donestk, Caritas’ staff continues to deliver home care services to some 70 lonely seniors.
Total budget of projects amounts 1,126,997.99 UAH (€68,734.88).
b. Assistance to IDPs in Kharkiv
Caritas Ukraine has opened an office in Kharkiv to help the IDP settled in the area. According to UNOCHA, this region hosts one of the largest IDP community in the country. As from September the office will secure basic needs such as food packages and hygiene kits, clothes, shoes, heaters and potable water to several thousands of people that have fled the humanitarian crisis in the oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. This initial help has expanded to also deliver social, legal and psychological help. Caritas Ukraine gives priority to elderly persons, people with special needs, orphans,low-income individuals and large families.
Total project budget is 3,400,000 UAH (€206,284). As of 21 October 95,062 UAH were used.
c. Insulating programme in Slovyansk
In view of the approaching winter, Caritas Ukraine is planning to invest in insulating glass units and repair broken windows for 4000 residents of Slovyansk and its suburbs, including 5 schools and kindergartens.
Total budget for this programme is some 3,000,000 UAH (€183,017).
d. Winter resiliance in eastern oblasts
Beginning of November 2014, Caritas Ukraine will help over 3,000 IDPs temporary dwelling in Donestk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizk and Kharkiv. This help foresees provision of housing/rent subsidy, clothing for the winter, heaters and basic household materials.
Total budget for this programme is 22,670,899 UAH (€1,382,923).
DONATE
Everyone who is willing to help Caritas Ukraine’s work for the people in need can use the following account details:
Donations from outside of Ukraine
Bank: KREDOBANK (Address: vul. Sakharova, 78, 79026 Lviv, Ukraine)
Account number: 2600801913626.
SWIFT code: WUCBUA2X.
Account holder: International Charitable Foundation “Caritas Ukraine”
Correspondent bank: KBC Bank N.V. Brussels, Belgium.
Account number: 480-9589677-71
SWIFT code: KREDBEBB.
*please note that while transferring money it has to be marked as: Charitable Donation for ICF “Caritas Ukraine”
Donations within Ukraine
Current account 2600801913626 in Central branch of Public Joint-Stock Company “KREDOBANK”, code: 325365, International charitable foundation “Caritas Ukraine”, ЄДРПОУ(list of company registers) 21695710
*destination of payment: charitable donation for statutory activity
