Distant peace, close winter

On the eastern borders of Europe, in Ukraine, a war is being fought which the rest of the continent views with apathy, even though, just like all ongoing conflicts, it is leaving a desert of corpses in its wake. On August 26, the political authorities of Ukraine, Russia, Kazakistan, Belarus and the EU decided to convene in Minsk to discuss the crisis. A shake of hands and talks between Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Russian president Vladimir Putin are not enough to restore peace to a martyred land, but at least in Minsk real problems have been laid on the table: respect of borders, the presence in Ukraine of rebel forces close to Moscow, the urgent need for a bilateral cease-fire, free access to humanitarian aid, promotion of negotiations for a long-lasting peace… In the meantime Ukrainian president Poroshenko signed a decree on the parliament’s dissolution, tabling new elections for October 26. In the rebels’ stronghold. Damages in the Donbass region are being assessed. Civilians are left behind alone. In fact, humanitarian agencies are not yet allowed to cross the “check points” for the delivery of relief. The humanitarian situation in Luhansk and Donetsk in particular is tragic. Those are the cities that were most direly hit, in need of everything. For the past twenty days people living in the stronghold of pro-Russian rebels have been without water and electricity. “One hundred kilometres of border territory are now under the control of Russia”, said Jesuit Fr Andriy Zelinskij, in the proximities of the city of Sloviansk. “People are afraid, nobody dares go out of their homes. Going in and out of Donetsk and Luhansk is allowed only with passport control, while humanitarian aid into Ukraine is not allowed”. Caritas’ appeal. “The situation in the east of the Country – said the president of Caritas Ukraine in Kiev, Andrij Waskowycz – is growing worse day after day, people are leaving their homes”. According to figures released by the United Nations, “internal refugees”, i.e., those who took refuge in Ukraine, amount to 190 thousand, while 200 thousand have decided to flee to Russia. “In Luhansk – went on the director of Caritas Russia – the situation is even worse. There is no water, electricity, access to medical treatment or food”. Caritas is actively working in Kiev to identify ways of providing support. Meetings are under way with representatives of Caritas Europe, Caritas Germany, and Caritas USA. To date, two specific areas of intervention have been identified: support to refugees and to displaced persons from Sloviansk to help them return to their homes, which they will find damaged or completely torn down. The convened parties agreed on a project to rebuild and install windows in houses damaged during the armed conflict, thereby helping one thousand families to face the winter season. In the city of Kharkiv, 50 kilometres away from the Russian border, Caritas has set up an office for the coordination of relief across the region. “We need the support of the international community – Waskowycz went on-. For months we have fought for the establishment of European values in our Country. Now Europe cannot abandon us”. Aid to refugees. Pasquale Ionta is in Kiev, representing Caritas Germany. “We tried to enter into Sloviansk, liberated by Ukrainian forces – he told SIR Europe -. But there were too many tensions and we couldn’t cross the check-points. Moreover, small gangs present across the territory made it unsafe to proceed. However, we were able to verify severe damage to homes and commercial activities. Seven healthcare centres – including clinics and Emergency Rooms in the province were severely damaged; one of which was destroyed completely”. Caritas has opened an office in Kharkiv to coordinate aids in this very first phase of the emergency, which today has the face of the refugees: 27 thousand according to official figures. “But our estimates – Ionta said – show there are at least twice as many. In fact, a large number of refugees choose not to register their presence for fear of being accused of collaborationism”. Refugees arrive to Kharkiv by train. At the station they are met by groups of volunteers who give them food and essential goods, after which they are accompanied to the 4 scout camps set up in the city. The Pope’s words. The words pronounced by the Pope in past Sunday’s Angelus prayer have a soothing effect in Ukraine. His Holiness asked the faithful in St. Peter’s Square to recite Hail Mary for our “beloved land of Ukraine”. “The Pope has always expressed his closeness towards the Ukrainian population – remarked Jesuit Fr Zelinskij -, but the problem is that the world has forgotten us”. For this reason, the Primate of Ukraine’s Greek-Catholic Church Sviatoslav Schevchuk, sent a recent message to the international community. “Ukraine – he said – needs the concrete support of the entire Christian community and of all people of good will. Silence and lack of action will lead to further tragedies”.