Caritas International's helpdesk in Belgium handled over 2,000 cases filed by Ukrainian refugees last year.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Christian charity Caritas International set up a helpdesk in Belgium to assist refugees with protection, housing, residency, shelter and social rights. Caritas advisors aim to empower these individuals to take control of their future.
The helpdesk has received an increasing number of enquiries about staying in Belgium. "Ukrainians want to know if they can remain here and for how long. They ask about building a real life here," says coordinator Pieter Van Roeyen.
3.6 million displaced people in Ukraine
Caritas also operates a network within Ukraine. Since the invasion, over four million people have received assistance, including shelter, food, drinking water, cash for purchases, and legal, medical and psychosocial support. There are also initiatives to help people find employment and to foster local community solidarity.
According to the Ukrainian government, an estimated 3.6 million displaced people remain within Ukraine. The United Nations projects that 12.7 million Ukrainians will need humanitarian aid by 2025, nearly a third of the population. More than nine million people currently live below the poverty line in Ukraine.
Since the war began, almost seven million Ukrainians have fled the country, according to the UN. Over 92,000 of them have been granted protection in Belgium.
