December 19, 2024
News
Caritas Czech Republic continues to help the victims of the catastrophic floods that hit the Czech Republic in mid-September. A total of CZK 65.3 million has so far been used for initial aid. The majority of the funds go to direct assistance to families.
The first phase of the aid, when its employees and volunteers in the affected areas were involved in identifying and repairing damage, supplying material and providing psychosocial and financial assistance, has been completed. The next phase is now being prepared, but new households that have been flooded are still sporadically reporting for assistance.
From the beginning of the crisis, Caritas activated flood crews and, as part of the integrated rescue system, engaged in humanitarian aid, organised volunteer assistance and carried out social surveys in affected households. To this end, it launched a public fundraising campaign. The Czech Bishops' Conference has announced a church collection to help flood victims on Sunday 29 September, the proceeds of which will be used to help Caritas.
Caritas provided 560 dryers, cleaners, 380 pieces of tools and instruments, and a number of packages of disinfectant. In addition to material and physical assistance, Caritas staff also provided counselling and psychosocial support.
Direct financial assistance was paid to affected households. The uniform amount was jointly agreed by the NGOs.
Direct financial aid was paid to more than 1 300 households within the scope of the Archdiocesan Caritas Olomouc and the Diocesan Caritas Ostrava-Opava, and in smaller amounts also to the Diocesan Caritas Litoměřice and the Diocesan Caritas České Budějovice,
says Vít Kraus, Emergency Coordinator of Caritas Czech Republic.
Since the beginning, the individual units of Caritas Czech Republic have sent over 1 050 of their own staff and volunteers to the area to help with the clean-up and organisation of the aid and have carried out surveys in more than 1 400 households.
Support to households continues and will continue. After the initial assistance, Caritas Czech Republic is planning another wave. The funds will be particularly important at a time when households will face increased energy costs. These will come, for example, in connection with the operation of dehumidifiers.
New households that have been flooded still report to us, albeit sporadically, and ask for help,
Coordination with other interested non-profit organisations to deal with similar situations is also continuing.
At the moment we are also preparing subsequent financial support for specific aid projects
concludes Vít Kraus.
The balance of the collection account at the beginning of December is CZK 145.2 million, of which almost 50 million came from the aforementioned national church collection held on 29 September.
A total of CZK 65.3 million has so far been used for primary aid (of which CZK 15.2 million has been used to purchase materials and equipment and CZK 50 million has gone directly to local charities, which have been providing direct aid to flooded households in the Jesenice, Ostrava and Krnov regions since the beginning). The majority of the funds go to direct assistance to families.
The rest of the funds will be distributed in subsequent phases, as the follow-up assistance will be long-term.
Caritas Czech republic is active in the places where it also operates its centres. Local Caritas, even though they themselves have sometimes been flooded, have not stopped helping their clients in difficult conditions and provide health and social services, especially to the elderly, the sick, the handicaps and the socially excluded.