CNEWA Releases $2.8 Million for Ukrainians Impacted by War

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As the Russian invasion of Ukraine now enters its six month, CNEWA’s Msgr. Peter Vaccari has authorized the release of $2,805,567 in funds—totaling more than $5.5 million in emergency Ukraine aid in 2022—to support Church-led relief initiatives in the war-weary nation.

“These funds will help those confronting food shortages, provide psychological and spiritual support for those traumatized by the loss of their families and homes, and rush the basics for displaced children and adults with special needs,” said Msgr. Vaccari, president of CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association).

“We have canvassed the entire country,” added Kyiv native Anna Dombrovska, CNEWA’s project officer for Ukraine, “and identified and prioritized those efforts of the leadership of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, individual eparchies, the Caritas network and the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv.”

The Church is serving every region, she said, “including those under siege. These funds will facilitate their efforts, and in some cases will sustain them through the autumn.”

“Even as we rush this sixth disbursement of emergency aid, we are focused on the coming winter,” said Msgr. Vaccari, who visited with displaced Ukrainians in Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine in May with CNEWA’s chair, Cardinal Dolan.

“We are very concerned about severe shortages of food and fuel.”

Thanks to donors throughout Canada and the United States, CNEWA has rushed more than $5.5 million in six disbursements this year: $197,500 at the end of January; $217,000 on March 11; $650,000 on March 22; $800,000 on April 20; $850,000 in May and its largest amount, $2.8 million on July 22. 

An agency of the Holy See, CNEWA is present in the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe, working for, through and with the Eastern churches, rushing aid to displaced families; providing maternity and health care for the most vulnerable; assisting efforts for the marginalized, especially children, elderly and the disabled; and offering support for the formation of seminarians, religious novices and the laity.

In the United States, donations may be made online at www.cnewa.org; by phone at (800) 442-6392; or by mail, CNEWA, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022.