By Judith Faucher, Institutional Grants and Compliance Officer
In April 2025, Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada (DPCC) had announced three humanitarian projects to support populations affected by crises in Bangladesh, Sudan and Ukraine. We are pleased to announce today that two of these will continue for a second year, thanks to support from the Government of Canada. Here is an update on the context and results of these humanitarian initiatives.
Sudan ($2 million for 2025 and $2 million for 2026)
Although Sudan has experienced several periods of conflict over the decades, the current war, which has been raging for three years, has devastated the country to such an extent that it is now facing the world’s most severe displacement crisis. Since the conflict began in April 2023, an estimated 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, both within Sudan and across its borders. Even as humanitarian needs remain immense, civilians continue to suffer forced displacement, trauma and severe violence, including torture and sexual violence.
Given the scale of the needs, the DPCC-supported project mounts an integrated, multisectoral response. By 2025, the project had reached 41,062 people, including internally displaced persons, refugees and members of host communities. The project provides water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services that improve access to safe drinking water and dignified sanitation facilities; unconditional cash transfers to enable help households basic needs; and services that seek to prevent, intervene against and mitigate risks associated with gender-based violence.
The project will continue into 2026 despite an extremely challenging operational context. Meanwhile, DPCC remains actively engaged in advocacy efforts that have included a joint statement by several faith-based actors, including Caritas Internationalis, that calls for an end to the violence in Sudan and urges the international community to implement an immediate, effective ceasefire and to urgently scale up the humanitarian response.
Ukraine ($2 million for 2025 and $2 million for 2026)
In Ukraine, the war entered its fifth year in February 2026, following a significant escalation of missile and drone attacks in 2025, in terms of both intensity and geographic scope. These attacks against the people and critical civilian infrastructure (homes, hospitals, schools, energy facilities and transportation networks) continue driving the deterioration of well-being and the collapse of essential services. The humanitarian situation in the country remains extremely concerning, with approximately 3.7 million persons displaced internally and nearly 11 million people needing humanitarian assistance.
In 2025, the project DPCC-supported reached nearly 3,000 people with health, protection and mental health services aimed at mitigating the trauma of war. Mental health services (individual and group counselling and psychosocial support) have been especially beneficial for the psychological well-being of adults and children who availed them. Additionally, over 1,300 people have participated in awareness-raising sessions on protection risks pertaining to gender-based violence and children conducted by our local partner’s field teams. These sessions enabled isolated families, often headed by elderly women, to better understand their rights and the services available to them. Finally, a component of the project dedicated specifically to children offered a three-month program that served more than 850 children and included over 3,000 support sessions in safe spaces. These socialization activities help children reestablish a routine, express their emotion, and rebuild a sense of security. For many, the spaces were the only ones where they could play, learn and feel protected.
Despite an extremely challenging security situation, such personalized support for vulnerable families will continue in 2026 with the objective of providing comprehensive assistance focussed on ongoing needs, rather than just one-time aid.
Gratitude, and a call to action
DPCC thanks the Government of Canada for its generosity and trust and commends its partners’ commitment of to saving lives in the most difficult circumstances. With significant cuts to international aid and an unprecedented increase in military spending announced in the 2025 budget, we strongly urge the government to reprioritize international aid in the next budget. Doing so is necessary to address not only the growing humanitarian needs linked to conflict and climate change but also the structural causes of poverty and inequality to prevent crises.