CADIS and Tzu Chi Foundation for Ukraine

In order to expand assistance to Ukrainian refugees, last April 30 the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation and CADIS signed the commitment to work jointly in Poland and Ukraine. The aid includes the provision of basic necessities, food, medical services, temporary housing, psychological counseling with the goal of helping more than 40,000 people over about five months.
During the signing ceremony, CADIS representatives and Master Jing Si Jingshe led participants during the videoconference from Taiwan, Poland, and Rome, to pray together for the war to stop and for the world to be free from disasters.

The Tzu Chi Foundation and CADIS have already collaborated to assist countries severely affected by the new COVID-19 epidemic. This new collaboration will jointly invest in the care of refugees in four areas of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, including the largest railway station in West Warsaw with service stations, as well as shelters for resettlement, issuing a card for economic aid. In Lviv and Kharkiv, Ukraine, food, clothing, hygiene products, and medical kits will be distributed.

According to statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as of April 29 there were more than 5.46 million refugees who had fled Ukraine, of which over 3 million were in neighboring Poland.
As a safe place, in addition to providing humanitarian aid services in three cities in Poland, Tzu Chi and CADIS are working together to assist Ukrainian refugees with interfaith love. During the signing ceremony, on the evening of April 30, Fr. Aristelo Miranda, MI, Executive Director of CADIS, and Po Wen Yen, CEO of Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, signed the contract.

Fr. Jose Ignacio Santaolalla Saez, MI, President of CADIS, emphasized that the mercy of Buddha and the love of God exist to save people who suffer and that our core values are the same. The Russia-Ukraine war is an unprecedented man-made catastrophe. The most innocent people are those who suffer. We must face and cooperate for the good of suffering Ukrainians. This is a great responsibility and mission and we will provide respect and quality assistance to Ukrainian refugees with gratitude and love.

Po Wen Yen, CEO of the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, stated that Tzu Chi people around the world have provided assistance to refugees in Turkey, Thailand, Jordan, Serbia, and other places and have collaborated with the Indian Spiritual Medicine Association in response to the new COVID-19 epidemic, assisting more than 50 churches and groups, and more than 750,000 people. Yan Bowen said that we share the common mission of serving humanity and believe that interfaith cooperation will help refugees in all aspects. At the same time, he expressed gratitude for donations and support. The strength of one person may be small, but the support of people from all walks of life can help everyone in need. The hope is that the war will end and that displaced refugees can return to their homes as soon as possible and resume their lives in peace and safety.

In his speech, Venerable Jing Si Jingshe De Yuan mentioned the philosophy of Tzu Chi founder, Venerable Cheng Yen, according to which "when people do harm, I feel pain and when people suffer, I feel compassion."
In conclusion, Fr. Aris Miranda recalled the feeling of compassion that so many people in the world feel. The thought was directed to the clergy in Ukraine and their strength to continue serving in Ukraine with a strong and fearless spirit.