The assistance extended by the Romanian Orthodox Church to Ukrainian refugees who sought refuge in Romania and the Republic of Moldova over the previous year exceeded one million euros and included a variety of services, products, and financial aid.
Therefore, in 2023, the Filantropia Federation and the dioceses of the Romanian Orthodox Church provided measurable assistance totalling 5,151,731.43 lei to aid the individuals impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. The sum is equivalent to 1,041,490.23 euros at the average exchange rate of the previous year.
Additional pertinent data regarding the assistance rendered to refugees in Ukraine is as follows:
- 246 people involved: church staff and volunteers;
- 3,651,289 RON is the cumulative value of financial aid and products offered free of charge (hot food, foodstuffs, baby food, sanitary products, medicines, blankets, clothing, toys, etc.);
- 169,500 RON was the value of the humanitarian transports for refugees carried out on the territory of Romania and the Republic of Moldova;
- 2,021 counselling and guidance services;
- 812 educational, logistical support (shelter spaces – tent/containers, etc.) and transport services;
- 402 accommodation places were made available, of which over 60% with meal services included – of these, 143 were occupied;
- 391 medical services;
- 228 translation services;
- 261 people donated blood for the wounded in Ukraine;
- 7 support projects for refugees carried out by the Filantropia Federation of the Romanian Patriarchate and its member organizations.
“Our main partner in these projects was the International Organization for Orthodox Christian Charity (IOCC). We also worked with the Romanian Social Development Fund (FRDS) on one of them”, explained Patriarchal Counsellor Ciprian Ioniță, President of the Filantropia Federation.
“In addition to providing food and clothing assistance, the programmes aimed to prevent human trafficking through socialisation, psychological counselling, and information services,” added the patriarchal adviser.
As long as the conflict in the neighbouring country continues to inflict devastation, assistance for refugees will persist. “This year, in two locations—Bucharest and Oradea—and with the assistance of IOCC, the Filantropia Federation will offer Romanian language courses in an effort to assist refugees in assimilating,” Father Ciprian Ioniță declared.
Amidst the unprecedented refugee influx during the initial year of the conflict, the Romanian Patriarchate extended assistance to Ukrainian refugees residing in Romania and individuals impacted by the war within Ukraine, amounting to a cumulative value exceeding 8.7 million euros.
Photography courtesy of the Suceava and Rădăuți Archdiocese / Irina Ursachi (2022)
Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews
