March 18, 2022 News

On an icy bus to a foreign land. Then, refugees are safe.

Over three million people have left Ukraine since the Russian invasion. The international Caritas network is also helping with the biggest migration crisis in recent times. It cares for refugees who have decided to leave the country, as well as those who have been driven from their homes by the war but have remained in Ukraine.

On a run with three kids

She pushed the stroller with her three-month-old daughter Victoria closer to the tent's heater. Twenty-eight-year-old Ludmilla Beshnjeva is safe with her three children for the first time since fleeing her home town of Odessa. In a Caritas tent in Przemysl, she and her three children were able to warm up after five days on the road.

Ludmilla fled the port city in Ukraine with her sister's family because of approaching soldiers. They took a train to Lviv, where they stayed with friends. This allowed them to wait until the situation at the border calmed down slightly and they would not have to sleep outside in the freezing cold at the border. 

A bus eventually took them across the border, but due to the unavailability of petrol, the driver did not heat the bus. However, Ludmilla, her five-year-old twins Nastia and Konstantin and three-month-old Victoria are finally in Poland. Almost 700 kilometres from their home and their previous life, but in the hands of our colleagues from Caritas. And safe.  

First stop? A neighbouring country 

The experience of Ludmilla and her children is just one of more than three million stories of people displaced from their homeland by war. They most often flee to Poland, where they are also cared for by volunteers from the local Caritas Poland. For example, Caritas manages transit centres that offer thousands of refugees a rest or even a place to stay overnight. Volunteers then distribute food and drink to all those who need it.

 Moldova is also one of the countries where most Ukrainians are fleeing. There, Caritas mainly provides material aid to help Europe's poorest country cope with the refugee influx. For example, Caritas Czech Republic provides beds, washing machines, heating equipment, nappies and other essential items for refugee centres in Moldova. 

Help directly in the war 

But the Caritas Network is also helping directly in Ukraine. Together with partner Caritas organisations, they provide humanitarian aid such as food and drink, psychological assistance or shelter to people affected by the war.

"What we are seeing now in Ukraine is a huge wave of solidarity and support for people who are fleeing. Both men and women," says Tetiana Stawnychy, president of Caritas Ukraine. "It is inspiring for me to be able to respond to the needs of the current crisis with our entire Caritas network." 

So far, two trucks with food and hygiene items worth CZK 1.5 million and a truck with generators, food and sleeping equipment have arrived in the country.  More are on the way. Tens of thousands of people have a roof over their heads thanks to Caritas. And that includes thousands of children. 

Caritas Czech Republic is only able to do this because of your donations. If you want to get involved in helping too, you can use the QR code or send money directly to the fundraising account below.