Caritas Australia is calling for urgent support as Caritas Ukraine prepares for the possible evacuation of over one million people amid escalating conflict and humanitarian need.
According to Ukraine’s Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, more than one million people face evacuation in the coming weeks from heavily shelled areas where conditions are rapidly deteriorating.
Transit centres are already overwhelmed with resources stretched beyond capacity. In Pavlohrad, a key hub for evacuees, arrivals have tripled in recent weeks. Families are being sheltered in children’s rooms, crisis centres, and even tents, while people with disabilities remain stranded due to a lack of suitable accommodation.
Evacuees, most of them elderly, disabled or living alone, are arriving in dire physical and psychological condition after weeks in basements without food, water, or medical care.
In response, Caritas Ukraine has opened two additional transit centres and is working to prepare 30,000 places for displaced people across 15 regions and Kyiv by the end of the month.
Caritas Ukraine and its local partners are providing safe evacuation, hot meals, hygiene kits, and emergency shelter but the situation remains critical. Thousands still need urgent support to survive displacement and begin rebuilding their lives.
“What we are seeing in Ukraine is the disproportionate impact of displacement on those most vulnerable, particularly those less mobile and people who live alone,” Caritas Australia’s humanitarian manager Sally Thomas said.
“If you imagine being forced to flee your home, mobility is vital, and a strong support network is essential to access information, resources, and care if you fall ill. In turn, a lack of mobility or support can quickly put someone in danger of hunger and disease.”
“The work of our partners in Ukraine is the embodiment of Caritas and compassion in action. We stand in absolute solidarity with them as they seek to uphold dignity and justice for those facing the greatest challenges and ask others to strengthen their support for this vital work.”
To support Caritas Australia’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal, visit www.caritas.org.au/ukraine.
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Caritas Australia urges support for critical evacuations in Ukraine (Caritas Australia)
