Aid from Pope Francis reaches an area hit hard by bombs in Ukraine

Kharkiv, one of the regions hardest hit by Russian bombings in Ukraine, has received a new shipment of aid sent by Pope Francis and organized by the Dicastery of Charity under the charge of the almoner Cardinal Mons. Konrad Krajewski.

After four days on the road from Rome, the trucks arrived in the Ukrainian city last Monday, August 12, with non-perishable food, hygiene items, clothing, medicines and other essential items.

A group of the Swiss Guard also collaborated in the humanitarian aid operation, as detailed Vatican Newswhich loaded the trucks with the help that was kept in the Roman parish of Santa Sofia.

This help has been shared with the local Greek Catholic Church. Greek Catholic Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets of the Kharkiv exarchate has sent a message of gratitude: “Praise Jesus Christ. Humanitarian aid from Rome has arrived at our cathedral. I especially want to thank Father Marco Semehen, who has organized the collection for the inhabitants of Kharkiv who are suffering because of the war.”

“I thank the Hagia Sophia Association, the volunteers and members of the Rome community who prepared and sent this aid. Products that people always ask for arrived, as well as other things they need,” he added.

This shipment is especially useful since Kharkiv is receiving a large population from places near the border with Russia.

“Many of these people have arrived in Kharkiv and come to us every day asking for food and other essential items, such as bedding and dishes, because they have often had to flee with only their papers in their hands to save their lives. . So this humanitarian aid is really important and I thank again all the benefactors who accepted our appeal and decided to help the inhabitants of Kharkiv who suffer because of the war,” said the Greek-Catholic prelate.

For his part, Cardinal Krajewski was pleased that the humanitarian aid has reached its destination, in an operation that has been kept secret until now for security reasons: “It is a true joy to receive the news that the trucks with gifts from the Holy Father and many Romans have reached their destination in Ukraine.”