MONTREAL, April 28, 2022 – Quebec’s ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie has just unveiled the five international cooperation organizations that will receive funding to respond to humanitarian needs in Ukraine. Development and Peace — Caritas Canada’s project has received the largest allocation at $200,000, which shows the Quebec government’s confidence in our ability to respond quickly and effectively with our local partner, Caritas Ukraine.
This funding is in addition to the $1.2 million we have already raised for our Ukraine crisis emergency fund, and this figure keeps rising thanks to the generosity of Canadians.
Since the beginning of the war, we have been supporting our Caritas network partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries who have been actively responding to the humanitarian crisis through their local Caritas centres and many parish communities. The funds we have sent to our partners are already hard at work, meeting the urgent needs of fleeing or isolated Ukrainians (food, water, temporary housing, medical care, medications, childcare, psychosocial support, safe transportation, etc.). The Quebec government’s funding will help our partner Caritas Ukraine continue its essential work with those affected.
Caritas organizations in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries continue to provide life-saving assistance to the population in the country and to refugees fleeing the war. – Aloysius John, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis
Caritas Ukraine and Caritas Spes have helped around 900,000 vulnerable Ukrainians to date. For example, they have been providing temporary free accommodation on their various premises in Ukraine to displaced people who need a safe place where they can stay and think about their next steps, relax, shower, enjoy hot meals and take advantage of the children’s play areas. In addition, Caritas Ukraine is currently operating in the villages around Bucha, a town recently liberated from occupation near Kyiv, as well as in Zaporizhzhia, where humanitarian goods such as food and toiletries are distributed daily to hundreds of families.
Most people who seek psychological assistance are in a state of shock. People go through the first stage of stress, when the main question is: what is happening to me? Are my emotions normal? – Oksana Kostynska, psychologist for Caritas in Kamyanske
According to Dr. Kostynska, who is herself an internally displaced person, this condition is characteristic and normal because victims of the hostilities do not meet their basic needs, such as security, sleep and food. This is why our response in Ukraine is so important to the victims of the war.
Our work is only made possible thanks to the generosity of Canadians. We would also like to thank Quebec’s ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie for its significant financial support for our response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
About Development and Peace
Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada. It works in partnership with local organizations in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin American and the Middle East to create greater justice in the world and to act in solidarity with the most vulnerable people.
