The Society of Jesus through its parishes, schools, social centers and retreat houses has responded as one body since February 24. Fr. General has asked Jesuit Refugee Service Europe to coordinate this response for the medium and long term.

Our humanitarian response focuses on the accompaniment of internally displaced persons in Ukraine and accompaniment of Ukrainian refugees in 14 European countries, with a particular emphasis on those closest to the conflict: Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. We have served over 43,000 individual beneficiaries.

Thanks to the generous response of individuals, Jesuit networks, foundations, businesses, and governments, the Society’s ministries received approximately €10 million for emergency needs in Ukraine and surrounding countries. We are very grateful.

For the medium and long term, our work is built on short term humanitarian aid leading towards long term integration. Our responses include emergency food, supplies, and housing, and longer-term protection and support that includes psychological accompaniment, education, and training for employment and economic self-sufficiency.

We are doing this through the “One Proposal,” a coordinated fundraising effort to support forcibly displaced Ukrainians throughout the region for three years. Our fundraising goal is €12.3 million, and we have raised €10.3 million thus far.

To continue mobilizing funds, we have started a campaign called “Keep Hope Alive” on social media. Our current focus is a Winterization Plan, as Ukrainians continue to leave their country because of the war and need welcome amidst the cold of winter.

More information on Keep Hope Alive and the Ukraine emergency response is available on JRS websites:

https://jrseurope.org/en/project/the-one-proposal/
https://jrs.net/en/ukraine-emergency/