May 13, 2015
Ukraine
As the conflicts in eastern Ukraine are increasing in last three months, the humanitarian situation is rapidly getting worse. In one year, the number of exiles has increased from 17,000 in April 2014 to the current 1,200,000 or even 1,225,700 people, as reported on 24th of April, 2015 by the UN Office for Humanitarian Assistance.
“1.2 million internally displaced persons live mainly in the areas close to the conflict zone. Another 2 million survive in a 15-km radius from the conflict zones, where the fights take place and they experience regular barrage daily. And 2.1 million people live in a zone that is not under government control,” says Barbara Manzi, Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Kiev.
The Ukrainian government is overwhelmed. Modern Ukraine has never faced such humanitarian crisis and doesn't know the basic concepts of humanitarian needs.
“There is no doubt that Ukraine has a humanitarian problem, five million people live life in distress and need help,” says the director Manzi and adds: “But the problem is not so visible; you don't see mass camps such as in the case of other crisis.”
Despite the overwhelming numbers, the Ukrainian crisis has been severely underestimated in the humanitarian terms. Strong focus on the geopolitical and economic contexts associated with the conflict has a very negative impact on the visibility of the humanitarian conflict in the country. According to the UN Office, Ukraine has the eight highest number of registered IDPs in the world and yet it is one of the least financed humanitarian crises today. To cover the needs of the people affected by the conflict, approximately 284 million EUR (around 8 billion CZK) is needed, according to calculations. So far, it has been obtained or promised only 21 % of this amount (60 million EUR, almost 1.7 billion CZK).
Caritas assistance
Currently, Caritas Ukraine helps about 40,000 people, together with the support from other national branches of Caritas and donors from all over the world. It provides various types of assistance such as:
- financial support of the rental costs in some parts of the country that are least affected by the conflict
- psychological support for adults and for kids who suffer from trauma
- administrative support for people who left their home and search for new one
- food distribution
- distribution of clothes, medicines, hygiene kits, diapers etc.
- ensuring water supply
- medical assistance and access to health care for the sick and wounded
- sending convoys with help to government uncontrolled areas
- training programmes for winter
Czech branches of Caritas also participate in helping Ukraine, for example, with material aid supplies. Caritas Czech Republic, in cooperation with the partners in eastern Ukraine, will provide food, hygiene items, ensuring psychological support and social, legal and other administrative guidance and that is, amongst others, thanks to the Caritas for Ukraine donation.
