Common mission to help

Project: The provision of multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance to the population affected by the conflict in Ukraine (2023-2024)

The CF “Hands of Mercy” has a clear goal – to help those who suffered from the disaster of war. We do everything possible to ease the fate of the victims, to give them hope and faith in a better future.

For the past two years, we have been witnessing how the efforts of benefactors from different parts of the world are being combined. In particular, we joined forces with the international organization World Vision with the financial support of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). Together we are implementing a project of cash assistance for the most vulnerable sections of the population.

The total amount of material assistance is UAH 10,800 per family member for three months in the form of a one-time funds transfer. That is, if four people from one family registered, the total amount of assistance is UAH 43,200. It is planned to reach more than 14,500 people in four regions: Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhia. As of today, registration, processing of questionnaires and payments continue.

It is possible to receive help if you relate to one of the following criteria:

• Households that did not receive multi-purpose cash assistance from any organization during the last 3 months.
• People who live in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhia regions.
• People whose income is less than UAH 6,318 per person per month (social assistance and payments are not taken into account in the calculation).
• Households with IDPs.
• Households with three or more children or children under 2 years old.
• Households headed by one parent, including households headed by single parents.
• Households with pregnant women.
• Households consisting of elderly persons, including single elderly persons.
• Households with members with disabilities of I and II degrees.
• Households with members who have serious health illnesses.
• Households whose members were injured or killed by shelling.
• Households whose housing was destroyed or damaged due to the military conflict.
• Households living in a host family’s house/apartment, rented house/apartment, shelters.
• Households located in the immediate vicinity of the front line (30 km).

Even in the darkest times, there is light in every person. CF “Arms of Mercy” witnesses the manifestations of mercy and sacrifice on the part of volunteers and caring people on a daily basis. And most importantly, we see faith in God and His mercy in those who are now on the verge of despair.

Here is what Julia, one of our volunteers, says:

“…A woman from Huliaipole came to us. She was quiet and polite. When we started talking about categories of vulnerability and there was a question about whether anyone died as a result of the shelling, the woman told her story. After the full-scale invasion, she and her husband lived in Huliaipole for a year. When their house was completely destroyed, they moved to Zaporizhzhya, 3 months later heavy shelling began there as well. One of the bombs hit near their house, and her husband died. Now the woman lives alone, all the children are abroad. Due to her age and health, she is unable to work, so there is barely enough money for rent and food, and she also needs medicine…

This help would make it possible, at least for a while, to be fully treated. She was very grateful to the donors.”

Those words do not leave anyone in our team indifferent. We understand how important help is for those who find themselves in difficult circumstances.

Another story from a grateful family from Donetsk region:

“Thank you! You have become real guardian angels for us. We were left without a roof over our heads, but your help gave us the strength to move on. It is not just the money that you give, but also hope and faith that all is not lost.”

Such words are the best reward for us. They make us understand that our work is not in vain.

We thank our partner World Vision, donor USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and Acted for supporting our fund and joint project implementation. And also to local authorities for providing lists of vulnerable segments of population.

We will continue to help, unity and mutual support is our strength!