“It is estimated that 4 million Ukrainians have lost their homes, and more than half of these may never be rebuilt. Approximately 12.7 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, but only a quarter of them will receive it. An estimated 5 million people are facing food insecurity; they need food, but international organizations can only provide support to a maximum of 2 million people.” In a video message released upon the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Archbishop Major of Kyiv, H.B. Sviatoslav Shevchuk, voiced concern at the “alarming trend of decreased funding for humanitarian aid to Ukraine.” The Synod, attended by 27 bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, took place last week at the Shrine of the Mother of God in Zarvanytsya. The main agenda item was the Church’s charitable service in times of war.
“Based on the latest data released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – OCHA Ukraine – the war in Ukraine is exacerbating a growing humanitarian crisis that risks becoming the largest in the world, not just Europe.”
“The figures are shocking”, says Shevchuk. He denounced: “In Ukraine, around 4.6 million people are internally displaced, 6 million are under occupation and 6.5 million have been forced to emigrate or flee as refugees. Based on UN criteria, over 16 million Ukrainians are considered chronic victims of war”. The Archbishop made an appeal: “We must all join forces to prevent this enormous crisis from turning into a humanitarian catastrophe. The government, the Church and civil and international institutions must work together to provide much-needed relief to those in need. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to international organisations, including Caritas Internationalis, as well as to all benefactors of Catholic communities and churches around the world, for their support of Ukraine. Unfortunately, the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is virtually ignored today.
“News reports in many countries around the world have conspicuously failed to mention that millions of Ukrainians are on the brink of starvation. Our Church will therefore make its voice heard by the international community on behalf of the suffering Ukrainian people.”
Despite ongoing attempts at negotiation, Ukraine remains under Russian bombardment and attack. “Our peaceful towns and villages are hit by air strikes almost every night,” says Shevchuk. “On the night of 24 May, the enemy carried out a massive, coordinated attack across Ukraine, firing 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones. The capital, Kyiv, was the target of this attack. Many buildings were destroyed, and there were casualties among the civilian population. Odessa, Zaporizhzhia and other cities and villages were also hit. It is not only Kyiv that is under attack. This week, Russian drones reached Ukraine’s western Oblasts, including the Transcarpathian region, Ivano-Frankivsk and Bukovina in the Chernivtsi region.”
“Despite these daunting circumstances, the Ukrainian people are steadfast in their hope for peace,” continues the archbishop. “They are building this peace at the cost of their lives, offering prayers and embarking on arduous pilgrimages to Ukraine’s holy sites. It is the peace that Pope Leo XIV unceasingly calls for, inviting those willing to take a seat at the negotiating table to the Vatican — an invitation he constantly repeats. Russia has not only disdainfully rejected dialogue, including with the Holy See, but also any other significant step towards ending the war, if only temporarily. Nevertheless, despite these seemingly fruitless efforts, we continue to live, work, pray and hope. That is why we want the whole world to hear us once again: Ukraine is resisting! Ukraine is fighting! Ukraine is praying!” The Archbishop concluded his message with words of “gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for closely following the situation in Ukraine with great sensitivity and attentiveness since the beginning of his pontificate, doing everything in his power to stop the aggressor’s murderous actions and prevent the suffering they are causing.”
