OCTOBER 6 • 2022 | 9

An elderly Jew in Lviv, Ukraine, examines the contents of a food 
package delivered by a JDC aid worker. 

folks now facing poverty. 
Those who were poor before 
the crisis are in even worse 
shape. With prices for food 
and medicine increasing more 
than 20% in the last year, 
pensioners like Boris living on 
$3-$4 a day have seen scarce 
resources stretched even 
further. Add to this the wide-
spread reality of post-traumatic 
stress brought on by loss in 
many forms — loved ones, 
homes and safety. 
Our support — includ-
ing food and medicines and 
supplemental aid for emer-
gency needs like rent and 
utilities — is a lifeline for these 
Ukrainians. JDC has shipped 
more than 600 tons of humani-
tarian aid into Ukraine, and we 
are directly supporting 35,000-
plus clients today, including 
more than 2,600 new poor and 
internally displaced Jews. This 
is in addition to the tens of 
thousands of others to whom 
we have provided trauma sup-
port, medical care, evacuation 
or hotline services to date. But 
— with no end to the conflict 
in sight — more needs to be 
done. 

THE REFUGEE CRISIS 
IS NOT OVER 
While the mass exodus of 
refugees has slowed, there are, 
according to our European 
Jewish community partners, 

some 10,000 Jewish refugees in 
their remit. The actual number 
is likely higher, as some have 
not reached out for help. As 
global inflation worsens and 
many choose to remain in 
Europe, we expect more may 
turn to Jewish communities 
for support. We need to ensure 
they are prepared with the abil-
ity to extend care to their, and 
our, extended Jewish family. 
In partnership with local 
Jewish communities, JDC 
is currently caring for 4,000 
refugees in 13 countries. In 
addition to food, medicine, 
accommodation, psychosocial 
support and connections to 
local programming, we’re 
moving from temporary care 
to long-term support. This 
includes housing solutions, 
health care, living stipends 
and workforce opportunities. 
And helping Ukrainian Jews 
to integrate into local Jewish 
communities is critical. 
The High Holidays usher 
in a time of introspection and 
new beginnings. During this 
period, we should proudly 
take stock of all we have done 
for Ukraine’s Jews — and 
concentrate on all we must 
continue to do in the New Year 
ahead. 

 

Ariel Zwang is the CEO of JDC, 

the global Jewish humanitarian 

organization. 

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