CARITAS

Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development, and social service organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories. Its mission is to serve the poor and promote charity and justice throughout the world, grounded in Catholic social teaching. Caritas works to build a world of peace, justice, and solidarity, responding to humanitarian emergencies and supporting long-term development.

In Ukraine, Caritas has been active since 2014, providing humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations. Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes Ukraine, along with international Caritas members, implement programs in sectors including food security, livelihoods, health, protection, WASH, shelter, education, and logistics. Their work focuses on internally displaced persons (IDPs), vulnerable host communities, and those affected by the ongoing war.

Since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, Caritas has scaled up its emergency response, reaching over 1.5 million people with life-saving aid. This includes distribution of food and hygiene kits, cash assistance, shelter repairs, psychosocial support, and access to healthcare. Caritas continues to adapt its programs to meet the evolving needs of the most vulnerable, including winterization support and mine risk education.