New wave of refugees

“Longest aid marathon” for Europe continues

Caritas has warned that the next wave of refugees from Ukraine is imminent. "We have to prepare for new arrivals," said Klaus Schwertner, Managing Director of Caritas Vienna, after a visit to western Ukraine. "We have to be prepared to take in 200,000 to 250,000 people in Austria," he emphasized.

Europe must also expect the flow of war refugees from Ukraine to continue for even longer: "This is not a sprint, but a marathon - the longest aid marathon for Europe."

This is not a sprint, but a marathon - the longest aid marathon for Europe.

Klaus Schwertner, Geschäftsführer der Caritas Wien

Help arrives
Schwertner had visited the towns of Uzhhorod and Mukachevo in Transcarpathia in recent days. Ten aid transports from Vienna with 150 tons of relief supplies have already arrived in Ukraine, he reported. Some of them are being transported to other areas in the east, such as Kiev and Kharkiv.

Caritas aid has now reached 500,000 people in Ukraine, explained Schwertner. "Caritas Austria's ongoing emergency aid projects have currently supported 220,000 people with survival aid since the outbreak of war." This aid has been made possible thanks to public funds from the "Neighbors in Need" campaign and a "tremendous willingness to donate".

"Very great" willingness to help in the country
"The willingness to help is very great" among the local population in western Ukraine, reported the Caritas Vienna boss. "But the helpers are tired, exhausted, they are worried about the continuation of solidarity in Europe." Many schools and sports halls have become accommodation for the internally displaced persons, and the central food bank in Uzhhorod alone serves 3,000 to 5,000 hot meals a day. According to estimates, the population of the western Ukrainian city has now grown considerably due to the refugees from the east (from around 150,000 to up to 250,000).

Schwertner was also shocked to learn that two Caritas employees had been killed along with several relatives in the city of Mariupol, which was besieged by Russian troops, in mid-March. "That was a shock. But it also shows that Caritas is present on the ground, even in heavily contested areas." He renewed his request for the protection of aid workers and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.