"I invite the people of Canada, especially my fellow Ukrainian-Canadians, to support CNEWA Canada’s efforts in providing humanitarian assistance to flood victims who live in the poorest region of Ukraine,” said the Archbishop Lawrence Huculak, O.S.B.M., Ukrainian Greek Catholic Metropolitan of Winnipeg and a member of CNEWA Canada’s board of directors, in a statement.

More than 100,000 people have been affected; 20,000 have been driven from their homes. Four days of rain in late July also killed at least 22 people. Houses, churches, schools, roads, and bridges have been damaged. The floods have devastated more than 80,000 acres of agricultural land.

CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association) is working with its partner Caritas Ukraine, which has surveyed the flooded areas and set up relief centres in the Chernivci, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Ternopil regions. Drinking water, powdered milk, baby food, blankets, canned food, soap, detergent and medicines are urgently needed, according to a CNEWA news release.

CNEWA Canada’s national secretary Carl Hétu said he visited the Lviv region last June. He noted the people there were already living in poverty. The floods hitting during harvest will make their problems more difficult.

"The problem is not only now, but also in the next several months because of the lost crops,” he said.

Donations can be made online through www.cnewa.ca or by mail to CNEWA Canada, 1247 Kilborn Place, Ottawa, Ont., K1H 6K9. Cheques can be made out to CNEWA Canada and marked “Ukrainian Relief Fund.”