"It was quiet for a few days, but today (yesterday, ed.) missiles and bombs fell in Lviv too. Thank God we are alive and well, and there is light. We only saw smoke from the houses somewhere in the city skyline," the FMA wrote to the head of the Salesian Emergency Response Coordination in Ukraine.
The sisters, even in the sadness of the situation, do not themselves fail to instill hope and courage, and accompany their communication with blessings and thanks for the vast Salesian operation of helping the needy and for spiritual and moral support through prayer.
In fact, the Salesians, with so many lay volunteers and members of the Salesian Family, continue to stay close to the Ukrainian people in various ways, including those some 5 million refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.
From Moldova, for example, comes the testimony of Fr Andrea Ballan, Rector of the only Salesian presence active in the country, near the capital, Chișinău. "We are in contact with Caritas Moldova and we collaborate with them." As a result of this synergy, for example, Caritas has donated some beds to the Salesian house active in the reception of refugees, and has committed to support part of the living expenses of the parish house in the locality of Cretoaia, where the Sons of Don Bosco continue to host refugees.
"At the moment in Moldova, it seems that most of the refugees are housed in families or have rented an apartment," continues Fr Ballan. "Those who are in refugee camps are fewer and fewer. So, many NGOs are focusing on the distribution of packages with food, personal hygiene products.... Caritas is also a partner in the program of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which directly distributes money to refugees and their hosts."
Currently, all NGOs active in the country are making great efforts to respond to the current crisis. "We are also very committed and, at the moment, we do not need any more external aid, because what we have already received and the projects we have underway are sufficient," the Salesian concludes, finally.
