Global Food Crisis—CRS has identified 25 priority countries that are affected by high levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition due to combinations of these drivers, which are expected to continue through 2024. Areas of urgent concern include East Africa and the Sahel, as well as Central America, Southern Africa and, more recently, Gaza.
Global Emergency Update February 2024
CRS EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN UKRAINE TWO YEARS OF EMERGENCY RELIEF AND RECOVERY
Tetiana Pikalo, left, with her mother-in-law and husband, outside their war-damaged home near Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Photo courtesy of Caritas Spes
CONTEXT
In February of 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, causing massive destruction and loss, separating families and uprooting millions of people from their homes. Over the past two years, Catholic Relief Services has worked with Caritas and other partners across Ukraine and the region to provide a range of support to meet people’s urgent needs for food, shelter, living supplies, medical care and counseling—as well as to recover, heal and rebuild their lives. We continue to support families who have returned home, as well as those who are internally displaced or living as refugees in another country—helping them find stability and, in some cases, build new lives.
The war continues to drive increasing humanitarian needs in Ukraine, particularly impacting people who remain in communities close to the front line. Since 2022, more than 6 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, while 3.6 million remain internally displaced. Even now, the security situation has deteriorated, especially in the eastern part of the country. At the end of 2023, Ukraine incurred the largest aerial attack since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
At this two-year marker of the war, stories of recovery, rebuilding and healing have taken place alongside the ongoing need of those in harm’s way. The one constant at this time of great uncertainty has been the presence and unwavering commitment of our Caritas partners. Even at the onset of the conflict—when Caritas staff members were directly affected and uprooted from their homes and loved ones—they provided food, shelter, counseling and medical assistance. Throughout the past two years, CRS has been able to support our partners in the expansion of programming, as well as provide direct assistance to bolster the collective support to meet a range of needs.
The war continues to drive increasing humanitarian needs in Ukraine, particularly impacting people who remain in communities close to the front line.
A mother and her infant in a shelter for temporarily displaced people in the village of Sokolnyky, Ukraine.
Photo by Vladimir Gerasimov for CRS
CRS AND PARTNER RESPONSE
CRS support is taking place in Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Georgia. CRS supports our partners in their efforts to meet essential needs and provide support for long-term solutions.
In eastern Ukraine, we’ve worked closely with our Caritas partners and other organizations to help families return home, with support for housing repairs to keep them safe. Assistance for Ukrainians is wide-ranging and tailored for the local context—and it also supports communities who have generously taken in those who are displaced. In Moldova, for example, CRS is supporting thousands of host families who have welcomed Ukrainian refugees into their homes. In Poland, Caritas Poland is helping Ukrainians with disabilities to access critical social services and medical care. In Croatia and Montenegro, Ukrainians receive cash assistance that has been the fuel to starting a new life, helping to pay for rent and all the household and living needs that come with it.
Above all, we work with the Catholic Church—the unparalleled footprint of Caritas offices and teams across Ukraine and the region—with staff who are of these communities. The war is not yet over. Families are still rebuilding their lives, whether it is in their home country or a new one.
Andrej, from Kharkiv, is a Caritas volunteer at the Shegyni border crossing in Ukraine.
Photo courtesy of Philipp Spalek/Caritas international
SPOTLIGHT ON IMPACT
In Ukraine and across the region, 143,000 people benefited from a range of support, including cash assistance, winter supplies, rental assistance, work opportunities, counseling and crisis care, home repair, and assistance to integrate into new areas and rebuild their lives. CRS has directly contributed to Caritas partners reaching at least 3 million people. Below are highlights of CRS' direct program impact.
UKRAINE
Shelter and Cash Assistance
- 68,750 people—34,390 families—benefited from cash assistance.
- 34,292 people—17,146 families—benefited from winterization support.
- 757 people—500 families—benefited from rental assistance.
- 9,450 people—4,725 families—benefited from contractor-led home repairs. An additional 50 homes were repaired.
Crisis Care and Children's Well-Being
- 800 people took part in "Bridging the Divide" counseling activities to improve individual coping mechanisms and community interactions.
- 200 people received counseling and crisis support.
- 100 children engaged in child-friendly support activities.
Income Generation
- 100 people took part in cash-for-work opportunities over three-months for community services such as cleaning public spaces and assisting the elderly.
In Moldova, thousands of families opened their doors to Ukrainian refugees and welcomed them into their homes. CRS supported Moldovan families with cash assistance to cover housing and food costs. Nini, pictured right, was among the Moldovans to receive such assistance.
Photo by Schimbator Studio for CRS
ACROSS THE REGION
MOLDOVA
Shelter and Cash Assistance
- 10,000 Ukrainian refugees benefited from shelter support.
- 3,000 Moldovan host families received cash assistance, helping to support their costs for rental and utility subsidies for refugees, small home repairs and winterization support.
- 3,830 beds were provided to refugee accommodation centers.
- 51,653 people received vouchers for critical hygiene supplies.
Crisis Care and Children's Well-Being
- 270 children and more than 130 caregivers received daily education and counseling support activities.
Integration Activities
- 700 people participated in more than 100 social events at community centers. These events included recreational activities, language courses and arts and crafts.
GREECE
Integration Activities
- Provided critical referrals and information to 2,324 Ukrainians for their integration through a social services hotline.
- Supported Ukrainians to connect with job opportunities.
- Supported apartment searches, rental assistance and language courses.
POLAND
Integration Activities
- CRS has supported Caritas Poland to launch a regional learning platform for the Caritas organizations engaged in the Ukrainian refugee response. Through this initiative, five working groups will be formed to exchange ideas that will help scale learning and achievements in the areas of case management, counseling support, employment, education and safe return.
BALKANS
CRS and partner support has been tailored to local needs across the range of countries. This includes:
- Cash assistance.
- Language courses.
- Counseling support.
- Children’s activities.
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English Global Emergency Update
Ukraine War: Two Years of Emergency Relief and Recovery—In February of 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, causing massive destruction and loss, separating families and uprooting millions of people from their homes. Over the past two years, Catholic Relief Services has worked with Caritas and other partners across Ukraine and the region to provide a range of support to meet people’s urgent needs for food, shelter, living supplies, medical care and counseling. Emergency Response in the Holy Land—Catholic Relief Services and our partners are responding to immediate needs of families facing hunger and displacement in the Holy Land.
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