Caritas Australia has launched its “Displaced People Crisis Appeal” to respond to the growing global need of people who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict or the climate crisis.
Caritas Australia is supporting partners to bring immediate and long-term humanitarian assistance to displaced people across many regions including Ukraine, Sudan, Bangladesh, Türkiye and Syria, Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Support includes access to food and clean water, safe accommodation, and medical and psychosocial support.
“Often, the most urgent needs for displaced people are the most basic – access to clean drinking water and hygiene facilities, food, emergency shelter, medical assistance, clothing, and cash to purchase necessities,” said Melville Fernandez, Caritas Australia’s humanitarian associate director.
More than 8 million people have been displaced within Ukraine and into surrounding countries due to the ongoing conflict. In Sudan, over 3 million people have been displaced due to armed clashes that began in April.
In the Horn of Africa region, the drought emergency and conflict have left 1.75 million internally displaced in Somalia and Ethiopia alone.
The human cost is vast.
“We had no food or water because of the drought. Our crops failed and our goats died. Our livelihoods are gone. We were hungry and desperate,” said Marian, from Somalia.
Like so many others, Marian left her home because she had no other options. She walked across Somalia with her eight-month-old daughter to get to Gedo in southern Somalia, hoping to find more food and water, or at least humanitarian aid.
“We walked for five days and nights with little food or water to get here,” she said. “We have been here for several weeks, maybe even a month, and still have not been properly registered with the authorities.”
To support Caritas Australia’s Displaced People Crisis Appeal, visit www.caritas.org.au
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Caritas Australia launches appeal to support displaced people globally (Caritas Australia)
