Klára Boumová works at Caritas Czech Republic as a manager for advocacy in the field of migration. In addition to direct assistance to the needy, Caritas also comments on laws in the social and health field or initiates negotiations on the need for systemic changes at national and European level. However, the normal working day was disrupted by the war in Ukraine, to which it was necessary to react quickly and to coordinate the assistance provided in appropriate way. We talked to Klára Boumová about the assistance Caritas provides to people fleeing the war in Ukraine to the Czech Republic.

What can we imagine by aid coordination and who is involved in the process?

Caritas Czech Republic is in close contact with, among others, the Ministry of Interior, the Administration of Refugee Facilities, the Prague Integration Centre, but also with a number of non-profit organisations, volunteers and colleagues from regional Caritas. In this case, the coordinator must ensure the smooth process of activities at all levels and optimise mutual cooperation. We can only help if we act together.

You are certainly not in this role for the first time.

That is right, we at the Caritas have a lot of experience in providing assistance to foreigners. As well as in responding to emergencies. We have a long history of supporting foreigners who find themselves in situations that they cannot resolve on their own, be it problems of everyday lives or unexpected crises and international disasters such as the current situation.

You refer, of course, to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Where can a person from Ukraine turn if he or she needs basic information quickly?

It is easy, they shall call +420 731 432 431, on which Caritas operates free and anonymous information line in both Czech and Ukrainian. In addition to basic information, useful phone numbers and addresses, we also offer interpretation and, last but not least, psychosocial support. Our operators are professionally trained in crisis intervention and are ready to help anyone who contacts them. The information line is also operated by the Ministry of the Interior and has information on its website.

Have you noticed more interest in these services in recent days?

Definitely yes, normally there is less traffic on the line, we usually register 5-10 callers with questions about unavailable health care, unpaid wages or education opportunities, while today there were 43 calls on the line. Most of the callers wanted information about arrival in the Czech Republic, emergency accommodation, and extension of residence permits, or about separated families and conditions for reunification.

Due to this increase, we have extended the hours of operation of the hotline. The hotline is now available on Tuesdays and Saturdays 9-12, 14-17 and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9-13, 14-18.

Foreigners coming from war conflicts have to apply for international protection and are placed in reception centres for several weeks. Is this the case even if they already have a family member here?

Most of the newcomers from Ukraine do not enter the asylum process at all. The Czech Republic has already prepared an extraordinary long-term visa for them (the so-called visa for the purpose of tolerating stay on the territory), which will be issued on demand in local offices of the Asylum and Migration Policy Departments of the Ministry of the Interior. Key information can be obtained on the website of the Ministry of the Interior, which has set up a special page for this purpose in both Czech and Ukrainian. Here they can also find information on how to extend their stay on the Czech territory, how to apply for a work visa or how to help their family members to come to the Czech Republic. The hotline will be open almost 24 hours a day over the weekend.

Is Caritas involved in this process as well?

Coordinators in all dioceses are coordinating assistance to newcomers, providing food and material support, and arranging accommodation in cooperation with local actors. They collect offers and requests for assistance.

In some offices of the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP), diocesan charities provide direct assistance. For example, they help with filling in forms, interpretation, and facilitating communication between foreigners and officials. These are mainly in Prague, Brno, Hradec Králové, Plzeň and České Budějovice. Due to the current emergency situation, OAMP's operations have been expanded, as has our assistance.

We have also a wide network of volunteers who immediately offered assistance. We will probably use them as escorts for the arrivals to temporary accommodation. The Ministry of Culture has made two apartments in Prague available for Ukrainians and we can also accommodate a few people in the Caritas hotel Marianeum, which has currently 4 rooms available.

How can people who would like to help get involved?

The charity has announced a Caritas for Ukraine appealwhere it is possible to contribute financially. This type of help is most appreciated at the moment, it will enable us to plan and deliver aid effectively at home and in Ukraine. A number of local Caritas then enquire about the possibility of accommodation for incoming Ukrainians or the material assistance they need in a given locality. We therefore recommend to check the website of the nearest local Caritas office. Thank you to all those helping the people affected by the war.