Caritas director Schwertner visited projects for children and winter emergency aid. Emergency aid has reached 4 million people. “We’re not running a sprint, we’re running a marathon.”
Kyiv/Irpin/Butcha (OTS) – A Caritas team from Austria visited many of their aid projects in Ukraine a few days before Christmas. “We shouldn’t kid ourselves: Even though Ukraine has largely disappeared from the headlines recently, the war here continues to rage with undiminished brutality – and especially now in winter, the need of the people, especially the elderly and children, is particularly great. The country is still a long way from a Christmas miracle in the second winter of war,” said Schwertner after his seven-day visit to Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Irpin and Butscha. “The consequences of this war are brutal, the suffering of the population is enormous. And Ukraine is attacked by drones and missiles every day. Since February 2022, the authorities have counted more than 35,000 air alarms – in the best case, each one supposedly only means psychological terror, but in the worst case, an alarm is followed by death, suffering, destruction and sadness. The psychological consequences are devastating, especially for children.” In the past few days there have been the strongest drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital in many months. The Caritas team was forced to go to shelters several times on their journey. “It is clear: with every day that this war of aggression continues, with every additional rocket and with every additional drone, the suffering and desperation of the people increases. There is no escape for the local people. The Ukrainian border is the same distance from Vienna as Bregenz, and Kyiv is as close as Paris. We must not abandon our neighbors! We said from the start: We are not running a sprint, but a marathon of help. Perhaps it will be the longest marathon that Austria and Europe have had to run since the Second World War. But we see: Our help works and it makes a big difference for many men, women and, above all, for the five million children – especially now at Christmas.”
Winter aid is survival aid: Caritas distributes firewood, sleeping bags and food
More than 17.6 million people are already dependent on humanitarian aid within the country. More than five million Ukrainians have been displaced within their own country. And more than 6 million people have fled their homes. On their trip, the Caritas team visited numerous projects for children, so-called winter emergency aid projects and heating points, but also projects in which old people and people in need of care and people with disabilities receive inpatient or mobile care at Caritas facilities. “Together with Caritas Ukraine, we distributed firewood in remote villages during snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, provided people with food, warm meals and sleeping bags and we visited child protection centers where something like childhood during war is supposed to be possible. And if there is such a thing as good news during this time, it is: We can help and our help reaches a lot of people – specifically more than four million since the war of aggression began on February 24, 2022, mostly women and Children across the country. It is no exaggeration to say that this help ensures the survival of many people.” Last but not least, the willingness to help of people in Austria since the beginning of the war of aggression has made it possible to deliver aid amounting to 500 tons – a quarter of a million Ukrainians have received aid in the form of food packages and hygiene products and drinking water support. Tetiana Stawnychy, President of Caritas Ukraine sends an urgent message to Austria and Europe: “Christmas is the festival of peace, which the people of Ukraine are being denied for the second time. Humanitarian aid means being fed again, it warms you and it alleviates the hardest needs. Humanitarian aid also gives people security, a sense of security, charity and hope. That may not be much for some, but it is that first step and that step makes a tangible difference. We would like to say thank you to the people of Austria. Your help also reminds us that we are not forgotten. Please help us continue to help in 2024.”
Making Christmas miracles possible: Caritas helpers wanted for Ukrainian children
Schwertner appeals to those responsible in the Austrian federal government not to let up on humanitarian aid for Ukraine in the coming year and to provide appropriate funds from the foreign disaster fund: “The aid must continue – because the need increases as the war continues.” Caritas asks Given the tense situation, we continue to ask for donations for the local people. Schwertner: “We are asking for this help at a time that is also challenging for the people in Austria. But the experience of the past few months makes me confident that many Austrians want to work with us to make a little Christmas miracle possible for our neighbors in Ukraine.” Specifically, Caritas is looking for helpers for the year 2024. With a monthly, free Eligible donations enable long-term care for children in Caritas protection centers. The donation order is limited to one year and ends automatically at the end of 2024.
All information below www.caritas.at/caritas-helferin
If you would like to make a one-off donation, you can do so in the Caritas wirhelp.shop (www.wirhelfen.shop/ukraine). There you have the option of securing firewood for the winter (20 euros), emergency aid packages (30 euros) or care for children in one of our child protection centers for a month (50 euros).
Donation account
BIC: GIBAATWWXXX
IBAN: AT23 2011 1000 0123 4560
Password: Ukraine emergency aid
Photos to download
https://wolke.caritas-wien.at/s/aGYFWkF78kYRpCX
Pw: r3GmNjCy
Questions & Contact:
Martin Gantner
Martin.gantner@caritas-wien.at
0664/88952 760