By CNS and staff writers
NOT since the last World War. That is how a top United Nations official is describing the refugee crisis developing in Eastern Europe, caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Some 1.5 million have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of the East European nation on February 24, according to Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Mr Grandi called it the “fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two.”
The Centre for Migration Studies in New York said on its website that after the Second World War, which lasted from 1939 until 1945, it was clear “there were over a million ‘displaced persons,’ as they were called, in Germany and Austria.”
But the centre said that “figures for North Africa and Asia were unavailable and figures for Europe were incomplete.”
Most Ukrainian refugees fleeing from Russia’s February attacks have gone into neighbouring countries, such as Poland, where Catholic organisations have been among the humanitarian groups helping.
The crisis is expected to worsen as President Vladimir Putin continues to escalate attacks on the country of more than 44 million.
Catholic Mission and Jesuit Mission Australia have launched appeals to help those affected by the war.
Catholic Mission is responding to an urgent call for help from its mission partners in Poland and Romania trying to comfort and support refugees fleeing across the border from Ukraine.
As the Australian agency of the worldwide network of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Catholic Mission will gratefully receive any contributions and will work with counterparts in Ukraine, Poland, and other European countries to provide support where needed, said Catholic Mission national director Fr Brian Lucas.
“The ongoing prayer and material support for those affected by these tragic circumstances is an expression of the solidarity of the universal church as we reach out to bring hope and give life to those so much in need,” Fr Lucas said.
Jesuit Mission Australia’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal will provide emergency shelter, food and essential items, medical escorts, translation and accompaniment to Ukrainian people in desperate need, made possible thanks to a partnership between Jesuit Mission and Jesuit Refugee Service Europe.
JRS Europe will coordinate the emergency response by mobilising support from offices across Hungary, Poland, Romania, Macedonia, southeast Europe as well as within Ukraine.
In Lviv, Ukraine, a Jesuit house has already been converted into a transit home for the displaced and in Romania and Poland, JRS is providing immediate food and shelter to arriving asylum seekers.
“It is deeply distressing seeing our Ukrainian sisters and brothers suffer like this,” Jesuit Mission chief executive officer Helen Forde said.
“Any donation towards the Jesuits’ vital efforts will make an enormous difference on the ground.”
