March 16, 2015
Ukraine
Since September 2014 Caritas South of Russia has been helping Ukrainian refugees who come to the city of Rostov. Food and hygienic kits, bed linens, and baby food are distributed among them. Many refugees appreciated the contents of the food kit, which provides them with long-term food.
Caritas South of Russia has implemented emergency projects since 2002 and has a lot of experience. But each new project is special. This is the first emergency project of Caritas South of Russia in which all beneficiaries are foreign citizens, which causes some issues.
During the first months after the beginning of the conflict in Donbass many refugees hoped that the situation in Ukraine would change, and they would be able to return to normal life in their homeland.
These hopes, unfortunately, didn´t come true. Officially, many refugees have come to the Rostov region on private affairs, and so the statistics doesn’t consider them as refugees. Now they realize that soon it will be necessary to make a choice: to remain in Russia or to return home. When talking with refugees Caritas workers noticed how it is difficult for many of them to come to a decision.
Some refugees have planned to remain in Russia from the beginning, especially the families with children, who have relatives in Russia. These people try to adjust to normal life in a new place: finding a place to live,working and sending children to school.
Vadim Naboychenko, Diocesan Caritas Coordinator for emergency projects.
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