|
|
|
Dear friend, We have updates to share with you — straight from our teams on the ground in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. This email is part of our ongoing series to help keep our global community informed about Mercy Corps’ emergency response in the region. Situation in Ukraine now Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, over 6.5 million Ukrainians have left the country as refugees. Inside Ukraine, an estimated 13 million people are trapped in temporarily occupied territories and are unable to meet their basic needs, including access to food, water, and medicine. Mercy Corps has been in Ukraine, Romania, and Poland since the start of the war.
With financial support from Mercy Corps, our Romanian partner delivered supplies to more than 3,000 people in Ukraine and transported 1,500 people out of Mariupol.
Evacuations & supply distribution From the beginning, Mercy Corps has focused on partnering with local organizations that could help people in Ukraine and at the borders. Together, we’ve worked to safely accompany thousands of families out of conflict-affected regions. In Ukraine, we are supporting 30 organizations who have already helped more than 18,000 people safely evacuate occupied areas. Our partners are also distributing desperately needed supplies like food, water, medicine, diapers, and other items to centers hosting refugees. Shelter Mercy Corps provided grants to organizations to provide temporary shelter for people fleeing the war. It’s been particularly important to ensure third-country nationals (often young students and migrant laborers from Asia and Africa), people who are LGBTQ, and people with disabilities are able to access shelters. One of our Poland partners grew their hostel operations to provide third-country nationals with shelter, meals, hygiene products, and other essentials. Psychosocial Support The shock of the war often makes it difficult for people fleeing to process information and make decisions. Recognizing this, we partnered with organizations that could provide psychosocial support. One organization has evacuated 736 women, children, and elderly from the occupied region of Mariupol and is providing them with ongoing psychological support. For families who chose to stay in Ukraine, the organization holds virtual support groups for women.
Mercy Corps supports an organization in Ukraine which provides children with daycare, art therapy, and activities to help with their wellbeing.
Access to reliable information is critical for families on the move. Mercy Corps is supporting partners to source and compile trusted information such as how to access legal services, shelter, and other services for displaced families. In Poland, one organization is assisting newly-arrived refugees with preparing legal paperwork, providing translation support, and finding shelter. They also help refugees find meaningful employment upon settling in Poland. We are continuing to grow our partnership network to reach even more families affected by the war. What’s next? Cash assistance is one of the most effective ways to cover people’s basic needs in areas where markets are in the process of recovery. Soon, we will be launching cash pilot programs in Ukraine and Poland. Our partners who are working with vulnerable groups, including evacuees from besieged cities, members of the Roma community, families who have children with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community, help us to identify potential cash recipients. Based on pilot outcomes, Mercy Corps intends to launch a nationwide cash assistance program, aiming to reach more than 83,000 households. You make a difference As we stay the course to help people heal and reestablish their lives, one of the best ways you can help is by starting a monthly donation to Mercy Corps. We call our monthly givers our Partners In Possibility because your gifts help families build toward brighter futures with new possibilities. Will you join us as a Partner In Possibility today?
We’ll be in touch again soon with more updates about the impact of our work in Ukraine and communities in crisis around the world. Sincerely, The Mercy Corps team |
|
|||||||||||
