“2022 was a special year for us, we came out of the pandemic, which was a very difficult time for us, but then we went straight into the Ukraine crisis, which once again posed a challenge,” Simonis said on Thursday.
The Red Cross director explained that the consequences of the cost of living crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine are serious, not to mention the challenge of welcoming refugees fleeing the war. “The war in Ukraine partially concealed, at least to the public, the fact that many other crises continue to plague other nations, and refugees from many other countries are still coming to Luxembourg in search of asylum.”
In 2022, more people needed support from the charity. 9,000 people received clothing donations from the Red Cross - almost 50% more than in 2021.
Simonis acknowledged that many volunteers are still lending their support to the charity, while donations are still plentiful. But the Red Cross solidarity fund, much like its other services, is receiving an increasing number of calls for help. The fund, which provides financial assistance to people in difficulty, has seen the amount paid out increase to over €100,000, despite the fact the number of applications has remained stable at around 300.
“There are still people in Luxembourg who fall through the social net’s cracks,” Simonis explained. In some cases, this occurs because people have no papers, but the Red Cross does not discriminate with their support.
“Housing is a big obstacle to social measures,” Simonis said. The demand for social rental housing, using the social rental management system, continues to grow. For the charity, the task of helping people at the end of the queue is daunting, although the Red Cross is working on construction projects to increase their offer of housing.
The Ukraine crisis is diffusing somewhat, as Ukrainian refugees continue to arrive in Luxembourg in slower waves, and often on an individual basis. The Red Cross could not cite exact figures, but a number of people who arrived in Luxembourg when the war broke out are now trying to find their own accommodation - a difficult task in itself. This also applies to refugees who have been granted international protection status, but who cannot find accommodation and therefore continue to live in foster homes.
All these crises can have a strong impact on the younger generation, causing anxiety over issues such as pandemic restrictions, war in Europe or the climate crisis and the future. Simonis explained the Red Cross has created a new “PsyUp” service, a mobile mental health service aimed at young people, offered in youth centres. He added that it was vital to properly supervise children and adolescents during these difficult times, as it is necessary to observe how the situation evolves in the years to come.
