The Russian invasion of Ukraine has sparked a humanitarian and refugee crisis on a scope not seen since World War II. According to the United Nations, almost two million Ukrainians have already fled the country; most of them into Poland, their neighbor immediately to the West. New photos of the devastation appear on news sites and social media daily: bombed out homes, schools and hospitals. Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr, shared heart-breaking photos of children killed in the war on her Instagram feed. “At least 38 children have already died in Ukraine. And this figure might be increasing this very moment due to the shelling of our peaceful cities,” she wrote in the March 6 post.
Food, medical supplies, clothing and shelter are now in great demand and help is pouring in from all corners of the globe. Dozens of non-profit organizations are on the ground assisting the refugees. Celebrities are donating money; interfaith prayer vigils are popping up all around the world. World renowned chef Jose Andres and his organization, World Central Kitchen, are now serving thousands of hot meals a day at several points on the Ukrainian border.
The following faith-based non-profit organizations are actively involved in helping the people of Ukraine; they are calling for prayers, volunteers and donations. Click on their sites to see how you can help.
World Vision, a global Christian humanitarian organization, has been stationed on the Ukraine-Romania border, where workers and volunteers are comforting refugees and handing out food, supplies and hygiene products. The group is also trying to find local accommodations for the refugees or to assist them in getting to their desired destinations.
The Salvation Army has a long-standing presence in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Since the invasion started, they have passed out food to refugees in Poland and helped tens of thousands of displaced people in Romania complete documents and get reunited with family members. In Dnipro, Ukraine, Salvation Army workers prepared traditional sweet pies and distributed them to displaced people.
Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian nonprofit that, since 1970, has provided “spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.” The organization is setting up a field hospital on the outskirts of Lviv in Ukraine. Their plan is for two operating rooms with the capacity for 14 major surgeries (or 30 minor ones) per day. The emergency room should be able to handle 100 patients per day. “We want to meet the needs of these families in their darkest moments while pointing them to the light and hope of Jesus Christ,” says Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham.
Operation Blessing, founded in 1978, is working on the Poland-Ukraine border distributing hygiene kits and portable solar-powered chargers for mobile phones which will allow displaced people to try to contact their loved ones. They’ve also distributed hundreds of food kits in Ukraine. President Gordon Robertson says Operation Blessing is “committed to staying in Ukraine and helping the Ukrainian people for as long as possible. We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine.”
Catholic Relief Services, an international humanitarian agency, has set up field kitchens that provide hot lunches and snacks, passed out food and supplies in both Ukraine and Poland and offered counseling services to thousands of refugees. “We join the Pope in calling for an immediate end to the fighting,” says CRS President and CEO Sean Callahan.
