Warsaw, POLAND, June 10, 2022 – In response to Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation has mobilized international relief efforts across Poland, Moldova, and Romania. It comes after ongoing war with Russia, which has expelled at least 4.9 million people (as of June 9, 2022) from Ukraine into Europe since February 2022.
Tzu Chi’s humanitarian response has so far included the provision of emergency financial aid, essential living supplies, eco-blankets, and emotional care across Poland. More specifically, as of June 10, 2022, Tzu Chi volunteers have hosted 169 distributions where we gave out 20,588 eco-blankets and 18,681 gift cards redeemable for 2,000PLN each at Biedronka supermarkets (a widely available supermarket chain in Poland). This totals 8,453,759USD in aid (the equivalent of 37,112,000PLN), or Polish złoty. Altogether, it is estimated that our efforts have benefited 46,789 individuals so far.
We have also partnered with fellow NGOs to expand our aid to those who fled from Ukraine to Moldova and Romania, and in Ukraine itself. With their help, we are providing critical supplies, medical assistance, psychosocial support, and education services for children. We are especially focusing on women and children, in other words, those most vulnerable to the consequences of this crisis. To accomplish all of this, we’ve signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with UNICEF, IsraAID, Airlink, Inc., ADRA International, Project HOPE, World Hope International, the Camillian Disaster Service International (CADIS) Foundation, and the Polish Women Can Foundation.
At a distribution on May 6, 2022 in Warsaw, Poland, one recipient explained the desperation of her family’s situation.
My husband and I have eight children. When I heard that cards would be given to each family member, I cried with joy. With this card, we’ll have a food supply for our family for half a year or more.
As we now transition to mid-term relief, our partnership with CADIS will assist in providing long-term housing and psychosocial support for women and children from Ukraine in Poland.
Food and other relief items will also be given out to approximately 25,000 people who are displaced from their homes but are still in Ukraine. At the MOU signing ceremony, Father Aristelo Miranda, the Executive Director of CADIS, highlighted a common bond with Tzu Chi:
We have shared values. Tzu Chi works on compassion and charity. For us Camillians, these are our primary values too, compassion and charity.
Adding to that, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Po-Wen Yen, said:
With our common mission to serve humanity and inspire others, we trust this interfaith partnership will assist the refugees both in material needs and emotional support. One’s strength may be small, but together, we can move mountains.
Through all these efforts, Tzu Chi seeks to provide loving support, practical assistance, and hope to those displaced from Ukraine. As the founder of Tzu Chi Dharma Master Cheng Yen once wisely said, “one day, materialistic goods that we give will be used up—but love and care are forevermore.”
To support ongoing efforts to provide relief to those displaced from Ukraine, donations may be made to Tzu Chi USA’s fundraiser, “Love & Compassion for Ukraine,” online at https://donate.tzuchi.us/ukraine.
- A Tzu Chi relief distribution becomes a celebration of joy in Warsaw, Poland. Photo/Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
- Care recipients pray for peace in Lublin, Poland. Photo/Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
- From the MOU signing ceremony between Fr. Aristelo Miranda, Executive Director of CADIS, and Po-Wen Yen, CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation. Photo/Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
ABOUT US
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a global non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 1966 by a Buddhist nun named Dharma Master Cheng Yen. Its missions of medicine, charity, education, and humanistic culture has brought relief to 127 countries and counting. In 1989, Tzu Chi USA was established and now has 62 offices across the US. The heart of Tzu Chi is embedded in its name: in Chinese, “tzu” means compassion and “chi,” relief.
