Total aid of the Initiative “Pope for Ukraine” amounts to 16 million euros: stage II is coming
The first stage of humanitarian Initiative “Pope for Ukraine” to help the victims of military operations; today received the support of about 200 thousand people.
It was reported to Obozrevatel which cited the press service of the Initiative “Pope for Ukraine.”
As reported, now in the Donbas “gray zone” the humanitarian Initiative launched by Pope Francis is being implemented. In response to his call, on April 24, 2016, all Roman Catholic churches in Europe held a fundraiser for victims of war, regardless of religion, ethnicity or political views. Later, the pontiff donated from the personal fund the amount of 5 million euros for this purpose. The total amount of aid was about 16 million euros.
According to the press secretary of the Initiative “Pope for Ukraine” Olena Kulygina, humanitarian aid had reached almost all the towns along the demarcation line in Donbas. The total number of persons covered by the assistance is nearly 200 thousand people.
“The action covers about 70,000 most vulnerable families – large families, single-parent families, low-income mothers with newborn children, about 80,000 children and 40,000 retirees. 90 thousand people have received or will soon receive the aid – medicines, including those for cancer patients and patients with hepatitis C, as well as means of personal hygiene. About 100 thousand people were provided with food. Works on warming and repair of housing were carried out for around 10 thousand people – we purchased stoves and wood, repaired windows,” Olena says.
According to Bishop John Sobilo, Head of the Initiative’s Special Technical Committee, dealing with the acceptance of applications and the distribution of aid, the course of action is controlled by the State Secretariat of the Vatican and the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” through the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) in Ukraine.
The bishop also says that Pope Francis does not distinguish between people living on both sides of the boundary line – the aid is intended to all people in need. Priority is given to people with the most urgent needs, children, pensioners, single people and people with disabilities. In addition, “everyone is getting the aid – Orthodox, Protestants, Muslims and atheists,” he stressed.
According to Olena Kulygina, the second stage of the campaign is in the course of preparation: humanitarian needs of the “gray zone” are being studied, appropriate monitoring, checking and approval are being conducted.
