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Jesuits served more than 56,000 Ukrainian refugees since start of conflict
Through the One Proposal programme, Jesuits provided over 82,000 assistance activities in areas such as emergency aid, shelter, psychosocial support, education, and integration.
Since the start of the international armed conflict in Ukraine, Jesuit organizations have served and accompanied 56,042 people fleeing violence. Coordinated by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Europe and the Xavier Network, and in collaboration with JRS country offices, NGOs and local partners, the Society of Jesus has provided 82,111 short-term and medium-term assistance activities in areas such as emergency aid, shelter, psychosocial support, education, and integration. The data comes out of the Annual report of the One Proposal, the programme of the coordinated response of the Society of Jesus, published on Thursday.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Jesuit organizations have been responding in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Moldova, and Slovakia, said Alberto Ares Mateos SJ, the regional director of JRS Europe. Initiatives are also being undertaken in JRS offices around Europe, which now offer long-term programmes to promote and integrate refugees in countries such as Spain, Ireland, and Croatia, among others.
“It is really moving and encouraging to hear the testimonies of so many refugees with whom we walk and who express their pain and concern, but also their hope,” said Fr Mateos. “These efforts are possible thanks to the continued solidarity of so many generous people, foundations and other organizations who trust in the work of the Society of Jesus.”
In the first year of the One Proposal implementation, 60% of the services were under the umbrella of the first key strategic objective “Welcome,” which focuses on short-term and emergency assistance through shelter and emergency aid. Meanwhile, 30% of activities were medium-term help in areas such as psychosocial support, health, education, and housing, which fall under the second strategic objective “Protect.” The last 10% were shared between the “Integrate” and “Promote” objectives which aim to provide long-term support through employment, awareness raising and integration activities.
The One Proposal, which was presented in July 2022 after an in-depth needs assessment, encompasses a wide range of services to be provided to a projected 73,168 people over the course of three years. It addresses the needs of forcibly displaced Ukrainians across Europe, from immediate humanitarian response and emergency assistance in Ukraine and its neighbours, to long-term programmes to promote and integrate refugees. Therefore, it will benefit internally displaced people, refugees of Ukrainian nationality and refugees of other nationalities, displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.
The report, as well as dozens of stories of the people being helped through the One Proposal, are available at jrseurope.org/en/project/the-one-proposal/. You can also find more information about how to donate and/or take action to help refugees and other forcibly displaced people.
