The agreement foresees the transfer of monthly resources for one year

The war in Ukraine has disproportionately affected already vulnerable people, particularly women and children, the poor, the elderly, those living in institutions and the disabled.

Those who are better off and mobile can afford to leave the country .The situation of those who can’t leave is deteriorating and will get much worse with the onset of winter, particularly as many are living insubstandard and damaged housing.

The response the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Ukraine can make to these problems is limited. There are just a few active Conferences and there is no National Council. But a fellow member of the Vincentian Family – DEPAUL International – is well established in a number of places in Ukraine and active on the ground there.

The Annual Meeting of the SSVP Council General in June 2022, in Paris, decided in principle that a collaboration with DEPAUL was the quickest and most practical way for the SSVP to get humanitarian assistance to those in need in Ukraine and utilize dedicated funds at its disposal.

DEPAUL has agreed to establish a Day Centre in Kharkiv with an outreach service to the homes of those who need assistance. At its meeting on 10 September 2022, the Board of Council General agreed to enter into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DEPAUL.

Under the terms of the MoU, DEPAUL will establish and staff a Day Centre in Kharkiv as a base for an outreach service for the provision of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in the locality in their own homes. The target is to reach 1,000 individuals. The SSVP has committed to provide € 10,000 per month for 12 months as its contribution towards costs, renewable for a further 12 months at the option of the SSVP.

The MOU has now been signed by our President General, brother Renato Lima de Oliveira, and Matthew Carter, CEO of DEPAUL. The way is now clear for the project to move ahead quickly .The needs it confronts are enormous and we pray that with God’s help this collaboration between two members of the Vincentian Family will make a real difference to the lives of the poor and vulnerable people of Kharkiv.

“This confrontation between nations is deplorable. We join our prayers to all those who are suffering from the consequences of this senseless war, and we call on the authorities, on both sides, to find a just diplomatic settlement, urgently. In this 21st century, it is unacceptable that we still have to face this kind of conflict between peoples. Jesus is missing,” stressed the President General, who intends to make a visit to the border with Ukraine next December.

• Click here to see the content of the Memorandum.

Source: https://www.ssvpglobal.org/