Help for the suffering victims of the war in Ukraine

Since the first day of Russia's attacks on Ukraine, Caritas Switzerland, together with the Ukrainian Caritas organizations, has been providing humanitarian aid and supplying people with the most basic necessities. Through long-term measures, Caritas is giving the population new prospects in the midst of the uncertainties of war.

Support is still urgently needed

The hardship continues. Ukrainians have been living in a state of war for over two years. There is no end in sight any time soon. Millions of people are still dependent on humanitarian aid. Especially in the embattled areas in the east and south of the country, people are struggling for food, water and medical care. Many have no safe place to live. The needs are enormous.

Even away from the combat zone, the war has not let go of the families. The alarm regularly sounds because of possible attacks from the air. People have used up their savings, they lack prospects and many suffer from war trauma. The children are particularly affected.

Caritas aid continues tirelessly

Thanks to the partnership with the local Caritas organizations Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes, aid can be targeted and coordinated to reach those who need it most.

Caritas aid still has two main focuses today. On the one hand, providing people with basic necessities is still of great importance. Secondly, we provide cash assistance to families in need of protection and offer psychological support and social counseling to help them come to terms with their traumatic experiences.

Cash assistance enables Ukrainians to meet their most urgent needs independently. Specifically, these are grants for rental costs or an emergency starting balance for the families. This gives them some stability and enables them to settle into a new place. They can also buy essential items such as clothes or a laptop for online lessons. In this way, Caritas helps them to get through their everyday lives in the midst of the war and to find new hope.

Please support people in their greatest need.

Your donation makes the following help possible

• Psychological help for children and young people in the Caritas centers
• A protected space for traumatized children with therapeutic care, craft groups or play afternoons
• Emergency financial aid for a new start after fleeing
• Subsidies for rent
• Money for minor repairs to houses damaged by the shelling
• Support for small business ideas, for example sewing machines

Looking back: Caritas aid at the beginning

Shortly after the fighting began, people on the run received hot meals and drinking water at train stations and found shelter in Caritas shelters. A warehouse set up at short notice in Poland provided people in need throughout Ukraine with the bare necessities while the market was at a standstill and supply chains failed. In the neighboring countries of Poland, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania, Caritas supported refugees in 2022 with mobile reception centers, accommodation, care, psychosocial support and integration services such as childcare and language courses.

Further information

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Header image: © Caritas Ukraine