At least five million people have lost their jobs in Ukraine due to the war. Many businesses, including large industrial plants, have been destroyed, and some have been abandoned or closed. Even those receiving a salary or pension have seen their purchasing power significantly reduced. For many, getting treatment is becoming a problem.
The Ukrainian population continues to face numerous emergencies, which is why AMU has decided to intervene with new projects, alongside Caritas-Spes.
One such project concerns the Kharkiv region. The war damage here is extensive: Russian bombing has not spared hospitals, and many areas affected by the attacks lack adequate equipment to treat the wounded, and there is also a problem of overcrowding in functioning medical facilities.
Kharkiv is a border region in eastern Ukraine; Russia lies just 40 kilometers to the east. Its geographic location makes it extremely vulnerable to Russian attacks. Constant bombings cause deaths, injuries, and uncertainty about the immediate future. While the population’s needs are growing, Ukrainian institutions are unable to meet them. For this reason, the presence and action of Caritas-Spes is indispensable.
The AMU project envisions the distribution of medicines and hygiene kits to 3,900 internally displaced persons and people living in vulnerable conditions in the Kharkiv region for five months. Medical teams made up of a wide range of specialists will be available to those in need. The unique feature of this initiative is that the teams will travel to various residential areas in the region, allowing even those living far from medical facilities to consult a doctor quickly and free of charge and, if necessary, receive immediate prescriptions.
(Project made possible thanks to the contribution of the 8xmille funds of the Italian Buddhist Union)