January 8, 2025
News
In the third year of Ukraine's full-scale invasion, the need for humanitarian aid remains critical. Caritas Czech Republic continues to provide support where it is needed most, expanding our presence in the East and South to support people affected by evacuations and the ongoing crisis in frontline areas. We provide displaced families with safe housing, help them regain stability through livelihood support, and focus on the quality of rehabilitation medicine and comfort and accessibility for people with disabilities.
1. More homes and comfort for displaced people
Nearly 4 million Ukrainians have lost their roof over their heads due to prolonged hostilities, and unfortunately, this number is increasing. In 2024, we provided free housing to over 230 internally displaced people in quieter areas in western Ukraine with the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
During the year, we completed the fourth modular town in the village of Neresnitsia and repaired the four-stories dormitory in the city of Beregove in Transcarpathia. Thanks to partners from the 'People in Peril Ukraine', 'UNHCR,' and 'Proliska, Ukrainian families received furniture and all necessary equipment for comfortable living.
We also managed to improve living conditions in collective centres in two other regions of western Ukraine, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk. In total, more than 1,200 internally displaced people now reside in renovated rooms and use new kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry facilities.
2. Health care in frontline areas that is affordable and of high quality
This year, we extended our work to Dnipro in the East of the country, striving to make rehabilitation and reproductive healthcare more accessible to people living in the frontline Dnipro region, thanks to Czech Development Agency (Сzech Aid).
By the end of 2025, six local outpatient rehabilitation centres will be fully modernised and equipped to provide free, high-quality care. Renovations are already underway, and medical staff are receiving specialist training to ensure the best possible support for local residents.
3. Barrier-free housing and public spaces
In 2024, we paid special attention to the comfort of people with disabilities. We created barrier-free living conditions in three dormitories - in Uzhhorod, Truskavets and Ivano-Frankivsk. For this purpose, we have refurbished living rooms, showers and bathrooms.
In Truskavets and Uzhhorod, we built the first inclusive sports and playgrounds that cater to children with different forms of disabilities.
4. Help with professional development and employment
We are pleased that there are many initiative-driven and proactive people among the Ukrainians who have left the war zone. This year, 40 internally displaced people joined Caritas Czech Republic in renovating dormitories in western Ukraine, securing better living conditions and part-time work as part of our Cash for Work project.
We also successfully carried out a pilot mini-grant programme to restore the income of war-affected families. 37 internally displaced people received free training and advanced training courses, which helped them find a job or develop their business in a new location.
5. Insulating and restoring damaged houses
Our mission in 2024 was to aid the population of frontline areas in the East and South. Together with ZOA in Ukraine, we provided 90 households in the Dnipro region with funds to repair damaged homes. Most of the affected houses are in the city of Nikopol, which is systematically shelled.
Together with Ukraine Humanitarian Foundation (UHF) we were also able to provide insulation for 400 rural residents in frontline communities in Kherson region.
6. Water and heat for the population of the affected villages
The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station dam in 2023 caused a humanitarian catastrophe, leaving thousands without access to safe drinking water. Caritas Czech Republic joined the response to restore access to drinking water for the affected population. In 2024, we continued this important work. In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the New Dawn Charitable Foundation, we managed to provide drinking water to more than 17,000 people. New wells were constructed, a water tower was installed and water pipes were restored.
In addition, together with the UHF, we assisted residents of frontline villages in the Kherson Region in winterisation. More than 1,000 people were provided with warm winter clothes and 1,600 with firewood to heat their homes.
7. Growth of Caritas Czech Republic
In 2024, the Caritas Czech Republic family in Ukraine expanded. Our office in Mukachevo, in the west, has been strengthened by teams in Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa. We are constantly learning and actively developing to be even more useful in times of war.
We are deeply grateful to our partners and benefactors for their support and the opportunity to continue our important mission!
