Ukraine Crisis: Support for Ukrainian Refugees in Poland

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The conflict in Ukraine has now been going on for over a hundred days and is leading to more and more victims among the civilian population, as well as to massive destruction. Due to the enormously tense security situation and Russia's ongoing offensive, daily survival is becoming increasingly difficult for large parts of the population. Many people from eastern Ukraine are therefore leaving their homes and fleeing. To save themselves, they seek shelter within Ukraine or try to cross the border.

The neighbouring country Poland is particularly affected by this flight of refugees. By the end of July 2022, more than five million people had sought protection in Poland and 20'000-25'000 new arrivals are still arriving every day. These are mainly women, children, and elderly people. Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine because of compulsory military service. The refugees have suffered physical, emotional, and psychological damage and usually arrive without much money, as they either have no savings or these are currently unavailable. This is why Caritas Switzerland, together with its local partner organisation Caritas Poland, supports these people.

The aim of the project is to meet the basic needs of vulnerable people who have fled from Ukraine to Poland, and to support them in their economic and social integration. The project also provides material assistance to internally displaced persons within Ukraine.

Within this project’s framework, Caritas Poland coordinates the work of 29 dioceses in Poland. These register 69'000 refugees in their respective centres and, in cooperation with the government and other non-governmental agencies, ensure that refuges be provided with safe places to sleep, food and clean drinking water, hygiene products and medicines. Caritas’ centres themselves provide temporary shelter for 2'000 people. In addition, the project supports 13'800 elderly people, people with disabilities and women with small children, with cash payments, as these groups of people find it difficult to find work, and thus cannot supplement with their own income the meagre contributions of the Polish state to Ukrainian refugees. All refugees registered with Caritas also receive psychosocial support and, optionally, language courses, and help in finding work. The project indirectly supports another 77'500 refugees registered elsewhere by referring them specifically to other service providers.

The project also provides assistance to 103'500 war-displaced persons who have remained in Ukraine. Using donations in kind from the Polish population, and funds from the project, 34'500 parcels containing food and articles for daily use are put together for these beneficiaries and transported to Ukraine. There, they are distributed by the local Caritas organisations.

Caritas Switzerland's contribution to the project's overall budget is supplemented by donations from other organisations in the international Caritas network.

The project provides emergency assistance to vulnerable people who have fled to a neighbouring country of Ukraine and supports them in integrating into the host community.