Catholic Relief Services responds to growing humanitarian, refugee crisis in Ukraine

BALTIMORE, Md. – As the Ukrainian conflict continues unabated, Catholic Relief Services is deploying staff and resources to support the Church as it responds to the unfolding humanitarian crisis across a handful of affected countries.  

"The scale of the suffering is devastating," said Sean Callahan, CRS president and CEO. "It's easy to forget that there are human faces behind the staggering headlines. As we pray for peace, we must continue to do everything possible to support the survival and dignity of Ukrainian families."  

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 5 million Ukrainians could be forced to flee the country if fighting persists, while millions of others could be displaced internally. 

Poland, Moldova and Romania are already seeing considerable upticks in the number of refugees crossing their borders. Poland has received nearly 300,000 refugees and is preparing for many more. The Polish government has since set up reception centers near the border to process new arrivals. Regionally, as many as 500,000 people have fled Ukraine to date.  

CRS is sending staff and resources to support local Caritas partners in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova and Poland to address the growing needs.  

The Church's initial support of displaced families includes, but is not limited to: 

• Food distributions;  
• Support reception centers at Caritas offices, train stations, transit hubs;  
• Transportation services;  
• Support for evacuation centers, shelter, food and counseling services;
• Evacuation of vulnerable children from conflict areas to centers in safe zones.

“The U.S. government must prioritize the needs of the Ukrainian people while at the same time balancing those needs with the many other crises playing out globally," Callahan said. 

"We don’t know how long the conflict will last. But we do know that the Church’s support is vital to make sure those caught up in the fighting don’t pay with their lives. As the Holy Father has said, 'Ordinary people are the real victims who pay for the follies of war with their own skin.'"


Ukrainian Crisis
How to Give
Visit crs.org
Click on “Help Families in Ukraine”
or visit archokc.org/ukraine