The One Proposal: The Jesuit Response to the Ukrainian Crisis

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24,2022 has resulted in the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II.

Ukranians’ lives have been disrupted, with nearly 1 million children unable to attend school in person due to insecurity. Their mental health and well-being have been affected negatively, with half of teenagers reporting sleeplessness and intrusive thoughts. Explosions in the border areas are heard constantly by the civilian population, infrastructure has been destroyed and as a result, , the economy has suffered  and has increased poverty.

In addition, according to the United Nations, displacement and humanitarian needs have increased in the northeast of the country because of intensified airstrikes, which have led to the evacuation of more than 10.300 people from their homes, who are especially vulnerable people such as the elderly, people with disabilities or have reduced mobility.

This conflict has displaced one third of population, within Ukraine itself (nearly 3.7 million Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs), but also over 6.5 million people who have fled to other countries such as Poland, Hungary or Moldova.  Poland has hosted nearly 60% of all refugees from Ukraine. However, between May 2022 and September 2023, more people returned to their homes due to the challenges encountered in the integration process, and 76% and 82% of refugees and IDPs, respectively, wish to return home one day.

Despite all the responses at all different levels (EU, governments and civil society), the needs of all the displaced people have not been met yet. The Jesuit Refugee Service in Europe (JRSE), together with the Xavier Network, is implementing The One Proposal to support Ukrainians affected by the conflict, This project provides immediate humanitarian response and emergency assistance in Ukraine and its neighboring countries, as well as  long-term programmes to promote the integration of  Ukrainian refugees across Europe, with a special focus on Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova.

The main beneficiaries of the project are IDPs (especially women, children and elderly people), Ukrainian refugees and refugees and vulnerable citizens of other nationalities who are also affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

The One Proposal is structured around five pillars that aim to put people at the center of the intervention. These five pillars are common to all countries that are part of the intervention, but  are adapted to the specific needs of each country. In the case of Ukraine, for example, they include the following activities:

  1. Welcome. This includes the provision of emergency aid, relief and assistance, as well as shelter, accommodation and NFI (non-food items). Refugees will receive information, emergency supplies and other goods, and those who are in transit will receive free safe transport to the border with Poland and/or to Krakow.
  2. Protect. Families will have access to the main mid-to long-term accommodation shelters located in Lviv and Bruzovice. These facilities, each with a capacity of 25 people, will provide psychological support, child support, medical assistance (check-ups, medicines), food (three meals a day) and legal services (advice and accompaniment to access their rights).
  3. Promote. Integral human development of refugees is a key part of the JRS mission. For this reason, to ensure education and livelihoods, children in shelters receive support on how  to access online education from their home schools, and refugees are assisted in finding jobs.
  4. Integrate. As integration is a two-way process between the refugees and the host society, JRS works to reduce economic and social marginalisation and promote inclusion, cohesion and interaction for those refugees who remain long-term. This is done through regular contact with relevant stakeholders such as the Migration Service, government bodies, NGOs, UNHCR and by providing assistance to children to integrate them into local schools.
  5. Institutional strengthening. JRS provides resources, training and equipment to its partners, staff and volunteers in order to ensure an adequate service, accompaniment and advocacy for those displaced by the conflict.