Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is deeply concerned about the situation in Ukraine. “We strongly condemn all acts of military aggression that can only bring pain, fear and destruction,” said executive director Carl Hétu.

In a video message posted on the morning Russian troops attacked, Tetiana Stawnychy, president of Caritas Ukraine, said “It’s hard to believe in the 21st century that we were waking up to the sounds of explosions and of air raid sirens…. We ask for your solidarity, prayers and support.”

Development and Peace is joining the Caritas Internationalis family, the CIDSE network and organizations like the Catholic Near East Welfare Association in responding to Caritas Ukraine’s call. We have made an immediate allocation of $75,000 to help with the provision of food, shelter, medical care and transport to safe locations. Thanks to generous Canadians like you, we have raised over $600,000 by March 18, 2022.

The situation in Ukraine is already quite serious. In harsh winter conditions, thousands of terrified civilians have amassed at every border. As the conflict goes on, much more funding will be required to meet Ukrainians’ needs. Development and Peace therefore calls on Canadians to give generously.

President Brenda Arakaza said, “We also stand in solidarity with Canada’s Ukrainian Catholic bishops and all Canadian Ukrainians and invite people to join them in praying for peace.”

We thank Canadians for their solidarity and remind all aggressors of Pope Francis’s message:

Every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil.

Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 261