Vulnerable Ukrainians receive Pope's aid in time for
Christmas
(Vatican Radio) Thanks to Pope Francis over
2 million people affected by the humanitarian crisis in eastern Ukraine will
receive a first installment of much needed aid in time for Christmas.
A communiqué released by the Papal charitable office ‘Cor
Unum’ reveals that about 6 million euros, out of the 12 million that
have been collected so far, will reach vulnerable people in the regions of
Donetsk and Lugansk, Zaporozhe, Kharkiv and Dnepropetrovsk.
The press release points out that aid will be distributed
regardless of religion or ethnic group.
The money was collected by Catholic churches across Europe
in response to a personal appeal by the Pope for a collection on April 24,
2016, in aid of Ukrainians affected by the conflict in the east of the
nation.
He then set up a committee presided over ‘in loco’ by the
Auxiliary Bishop of Kharkiv- Zaporozhe, Jan Sobilo, and coordinated by the Apostolic
Nuncio in Ukraine, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, to oversee the distribution of
the funds.
The committee has since selected and evaluated a series of
aid programmes presented by Christian and international humanitarian
organizations.
So far it has decided to fund 20 large-scale projects and 39
smaller ‘solidarity’ initiatives.
In collaboration with the Apostolic Nunciature, the money
will be used to fund food, housing, medical and health care projects.
According to a recent UNHCR report, the ongoing conflict in
Eastern Ukraine has killed 9758 people and injured almost 23000 since it began
in mid-2014.
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