CAFOD at St Therese of Lisieux
Our Parish works with CAFOD in the Diocese of Middlesbrough. Local people standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters overseas to end poverty and injustice.
Like you, CAFOD is deeply disturbed by the ongoing attacks on Ukraine.
Together, we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and send our prayers to our sister organisation Caritas Ukraine, and those Caritas agencies in neighbouring countries, who are already helping people affected by this conflict.
We are part of one of the largest aid networks in the world – Caritas Internationalis, and because of our global reach and local presence, we are there when an emergency hits.
As one Caritas, we stand united with them.
According to the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR), over 2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries (mainly to Poland, Hungary, Moldova and Romania), with thousands more having to leave their homes inside Ukraine. Many of those who have fled are women and children, having to leave behind their loved ones.
A Caritas Poland volunteer helps a woman who has fled Ukraine. More than 2 million people have already had to leave the country.
How are CAFOD’s local partners responding?
We are part of one of the largest aid networks in the world – Caritas Internationalis, and because of our global reach and local presence, we are there when an emergency hits. Our Ukrainian and neighbouring Caritas local aid workers and volunteers are part of the communities they work with and so understand people’s immediate needs.
“I am truly proud of our team that are working hard to look to the needs of the most vulnerable, while managing their own circumstances as well. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our partners and people of good will from abroad.”
Tetiana Stawnychy, President of Caritas Ukraine
Caritas organisations are already on the ground responding to this humanitarian crisis:
- Caritas Ukraine has 19 centres across the country. They are extremely experienced, having been active for 30 years and have been responding to the conflict in eastern Ukraine since 2014. They are already helping by:
- Running warm and safe ‘collective centres’ which provide beds, food, washing facilities and safe spaces for children. Displaced families can also receive up-to-date information, referrals to local services and psychosocial support.
- Transporting people to friends, family, or the collective centres for shelter and support;
- Organising Child-Friendly-Spaces where children can play sports and do arts and crafts as a means of coping with their experiences.
- Caritas SPES, a charity of the Religious Mission of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, is helping children and families to reach safe locations. They are also distributing humanitarian aid in their centres across the country and to people who have fled to the borders.
- Caritas Poland, Caritas Romania and Caritas Moldova are all supporting people who have fled Ukraine and are in need of food, water, shelter and means to continue their journeys to safety.
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