Emergency Relief for the Crisis in Ukraine

After a long summer that lasted until early October, the weather in western Ukraine suddenly cooled down in late October, and it was as if winter had arrived without any sense of autumn. Before the frost set in, insulation of the exterior walls of the welfare center under construction in Berehove, and triple-paned windows were installed. In Japan, double glazing and double sash are familiar to people, but at temperatures below -15°C, triple glazing is the only way to keep the inside of a building warm. The roof, which had been a concern, will soon be completed with plenty of insulation.

Originally, these works were expected to be completed by the end of October, but it has been difficult to make up for the construction delays during the summer months. In particular, many workers take long vacations in July and August, when schools are closed for the summer and family members who have been displaced outside the country return to Ukraine to see their fathers, and in September, more people are drafted into military service due to the worsening war situation, making it difficult to secure manpower.

At first, we considered bringing in construction workers from Hungary and neighboring countries such as Slovakia and Romania to build the building all at once, but decided against it because paying local people for their labor is one way of providing support. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to the people involved, but we are proceeding with the construction work quietly, giving priority to the use of local human resources and building materials from Ukraine. 

Father Peter and Bishop Teodor of Christian Charities, our local partner in the Ukraine assistance project, recently visited us to inspect the building situation. Zakarpattia and the rest of Western Ukraine is the area with the largest number of Eastern Liturgical Catholics (aka Greek Catholics), and Bishop Teodor is a very important person who is the head of all the parishes and more than 200 priests in the entire Western region. I was very nervous when I heard that he was going to visit, but he was surprisingly friendly and kind, with an impressive smile. He told me that Ukraine and Japan are friends, and he expressed his appreciation for the support from Hungary, which is often criticized for its support, which really moved me. 

Now that I am more motivated, I will work even harder on the building to be completed next spring.

I would like to thank everyone in Japan for their past support and guidance. We look forward to your continued support.

Links:

• Progress and Challenges as of September 2024
• The Arrival of Spring and Easter
• The Harsh Winter and Ukraine Today