Over 100 million people in the world today have had leave their homes fleeing war and violence. Refugees and internally displaced people often live in very difficult conditions. Inadequate housing and a lack of opportunities to secure work are particular problems. However, with a little support at the beginning, the vast majority of refugees are able to take their lives back into their own hands. Donate to help those displaced by war to get back on their feet.
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Refugee stories
Over a hundred thousand refugees have found refuge in Zambia. The vast majority of them have fled war and violence in neighbouring countries. So did Francesca (name is changed for security reasons) and her family, who arrived in the country in 1993. Getting an education is not easy for refugees in Zambia because of the unequal conditions and high costs, so Caritas Czech Republic supports university students with scholarships. Francesca was also supported and was able to study to become a pharmacist. She now works in a pharmacy two hours away from Lusaka, where she lives, and dreams of opening her own pharmacy or even a health centre one day.
Until the arrival of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, Hadia lived in Sinjar, Iraq, where she worked as a seamstress. But like other Yazidis, she had to flee the city in 2014. Today, she lives with her husband and their baby in a shelter in a refugee settlement in northern Iraq. "We've been here for eight years, so we're settled. It took us a lot of effort," Hadia explains in her garden where they grow beans, eggplants, peppers and other vegetables. Even though they only have one tent to share, she has set up a work corner inside and continues to make a living as a seamstress. Caritas Czech Republic provides the IDPs in Iraq with shelter repair kits, and builds latrines.
Tatiana fled the war in Ukraine and came to Moldova. Together with her two children, her mother Rafaela and their dog Muffin, she lives with relatives in a small village where it is not easy to find work. The family received cash support from Caritas Czech Republic, as well as hygiene kits and food vouchers. Having her basic needs secured, Tatiana got a chance to find a way to support herself and get back on her own two feet. Tatiana is now starting an online shop with Ukrainian delicacies, especially sausages.
For more than 12 years, Syria has been embroiled in civil war. Some 6.9 million Syrians who have been forced to flee their homes live in the country. One of them is Bashir, who, along with his wife and three children, has found temporary refuge in north-western Syria. The catastrophic earthquake that hit the area in February 2023 dramatically worsened the already very complicated situation of the internally displaced people. Bashir's family now lives in a makeshift shelter he built from old blankets, tarpaulins and sticks. Caritas Czech Republic is helping people who have lost their homes to provide the basic necessities of life, including shelter.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Krystina wanted to ensure the safety of her young son David. So she and her husband did not hesitate and immediately set off from their home town of Kharkiv on a journey to safety. After three days on the train, they arrived in Mukachevo, where they found refuge in a student dormitory. Krystina's husband soon joined the army. After nearly a year in emergency dormitory accommodation, Krystina, David and her parents moved into one of the modular houses built by Caritas Czech Republic in the city. Thanks to decent housing, she feels she has begun to live again. She started studying IT online and soon found a steady job.
Noaf and his family were forced out of their native Sinjar by the self-proclaimed Islamic State. Like other Yazidis, they faced death because of their faith. In the Khanke refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan, they were offered only one tent for their family of fifteen, so they built their own shelter. The material they received from Caritas Czech Republic was used to make a roof, doors, and a bed. Noaf still has his farm in Sinjar, which he runs remotely with his brother. He also works part-time as a government employee. In the garden around their shelter, they grow vegetables and keep chickens. For now, they cannot return to their native Sinjar for safety reasons.
Maria is one of over 100,000 refugees living in Zambia. She had fled the war in Angola. She has lived with her family in the Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement for 17 years. But the remoteness of the refugee camps makes it very difficult for refugees in Zambia to find a source of livelihood. Thanks to the support of Caritas Czech Republic, Maria has started working as a beekeeper. She took a beekeeping course, acquired 4 hives and started making honey. Her husband helps her with her work and together they earn a living from the honey.
Aliona fled with her husband and daughter from Ukraine to Moldova, where they originally come from. Her family received hygiene products and food vouchers from Caritas Czech Republic, but she quickly managed to find a job. As a rehabilitation specialist, she now helps not only children with disabilities but also those with musculoskeletal problems. When the war is over, the whole family wants to return to Ukraine, so that Aliona can complete her university studies in rehabilitation and physiotherapy.