Three years ago, on February 24, 2022, the outbreak of the war between Ukraine and Russia shook Europe. Numerous other atrocities have compounded this conflict ever since. Today, too many armed conflicts are ongoing worldwide, many unfolding in the African continent. All of them show death and devastation, painting the picture of a lost humanity. It is heartbreaking, and yet, despite the pain, it urges us not to remain indifferent.
For this reason, three years ago, though the majority of our work is done in Africa, we launched our intervention in Eastern Europe to provide assistance to those affected by the conflict and to support healthcare systems struggling to ensure medical care amidst the war, even in the most critical areas.
The latest data indicate that around 12.7 million people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian assistance —one-third of the entire population, including 2 million children. The war has forced many to leave their homes: currently, the country has 4 million internally displaced persons, while 6.8 million people live as refugees outside Ukraine (UNHCR, February 2025).
These numbers represent people, stories, lives that we are committed to serving. For this reason, our work in Ukraine never stopped. With the support of local communities, the VRB association, and individuals on the front lines, we have been working to alleviate the suffering of those who bear the greatest burden of this war: civilians.
Today, our intervention covers 6 Oblasts (regions), which we support by purchasing and supplying medicines, consumables, and biomedical equipment, distributing food and essential goods such as hygiene kits, and providing psychosocial support to displaced persons. Additionally, we focus on training healthcare personnel, with particular attention to risk mitigation, first aid for war injuries, gender-based violence, and mental health.
Some figures can easily showcase our commitment: since February 2024, through the activities of the R.I.S.E. project, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), CUAMM has provided healthcare assistance to the most vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and host communities.
Primary Healthcare (PHC) activities, launched in April 2024, have enabled 6.624 outpatient visits at the Drohobych center and through a mobile unit operating in the Lviv area. To relieve suffering and mitigate the psychological distress of IDPs and host communities, 10 sessions of MHPSS were organized, benefiting 1.270 people through support from psychologists and social workers. Additionally, 1.691 people, mostly children with their parents, participated in a month-long summer camp in Vasylkiv.
Based on the WHO Health Cluster’s Rapid Response Mechanism, Cuamm has provided medical equipment kits to struggling healthcare facilities. Over the past year, 11 emergency medical deliveries have been coordinated by CUAMM in the areas of Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Vasylkiv, and Sumy, severely affected by the escalating conflict.
The intervention also includes the distribution of essential items, food, and nutritional kits for women and children. Through collaboration with local partners Vidchuij, VRB, and Caritas SDD, CUAMM has reached approximately 5.566 people, including internally displaced persons, single-parent households, large families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Thanks to additional fundings by AICS, CUAMM has also provided 11 health facilities across both Donetsk Oblast and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast medical equipment and consumables, reaching an overall number of 26.500 people. SAFE project is being implemented in collaboration with VIS – International Voluntary Service for Development.
In Moldova
Since the conflict began on February 2022, more than one million refugees have crossed the border into Moldova, one of Europe’s most vulnerable countries. CUAMM began working in Moldova in April 2022 with a focus on the capital city of Chişinau. Since then, working closely with the Ministry of Health and the WHO, our activities have been guided by the dual goal of providing basic healthcare in the refugee accomodation centre of Testemitanu and in 7 regional hospitals.
Over the past year alone, thanks to the support of the Italian Cooperation and in collaboration with the First level hospital in Chisinau (IMAC), 1.060 outpatient visits with free medication have been provided to the refugee population and host communities. Additionally, 11 psychosocial support events supporting 603 people were organized, and in collaboration with Caritas Moldova, approximately 3.000 essential goods kits were distributed to vulnerable individuals.
The intervention in Moldova has also included a strong training component in neonatal care, with the ultimate goal of strengthening local medical personnel throughout the country. This initiative, carried out in collaboration with the National Pediatric Society of Moldova, has involved a total of 100 healthcare professionals.
Our projects are part of a 46.5 million euro initiative funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, reaching 900,000+ people affected by the Ukraine crisis.
In Italy
Our work continues in Italy too, through the collaboration with the Police Headquarters to support the Immigration Office in Padua. Due to the crisis in Ukraine, the number of people received by the desk doubled, reaching peaks of 350-400 in the first weeks of the conflict.
Since March 2022, Cuamm volunteers at the Immigration Office have provided 20.000 hours of service, offering their time and availability to safely manage the reception phase of foreigners, facilitate the processing of applications, and streamline office procedures, ensuring assistance to people in distress. Since this cooperation began, the helpdesk has received some 100.000 foreign nationals and has seen Cuamm volunteers actively engaged in reception five days per week. Thanks to the partnership between Cuamm and the Police Headquarters, available services have been enhanced, and processing times for applications have been significantly reduced, decreasing from an average of about 10 months to 4.
This is also part of a broader commitment that extends from Padua to Kyiv, to Chișinău, and daily across Africa—to provide relief to those who are experiencing or have experienced war and displacement and to make every foreigner feel welcomed.
