[ [link removed] ]Mercy Corps

Dear friend,

Thank you for
being part of our community and showing your support for
people facing conflict and disaster in places like Ukraine and Syria.

Over the last year, Mercy Corps and our local partners have reached more
than 1 million people affected by the war in Ukraine with urgently needed
supplies, cash assistance, trusted information on safe passage, job and
legal assistance, and psychosocial care.

In addition to meeting the urgent needs of people in Ukraine, we are
addressing the ripple effects of the war beyond the country’s borders.

In Northwest Syria, even before the devastating 7.8 magnitude that struck
earlier this month, more than 4 million people were going hungry after
over a decade of conflict, worsened by Ukraine’s grain shortage. Our teams
have deep experience in the region, providing essential services like
water, sanitation, and shelter for millions of displaced families.

Across Ukraine’s border in Poland, we are dispensing cash assistance to
refugees as well as providing psychosocial support, legal aid, and
language courses. Third-country nationals (often young students and
migrant laborers from Asia and Africa), people who are LGBTQ+, people with
disabilities, and people of Roma origins (Romani people) have all
experienced unique challenges and discrimination in attempting to find
safe transportation and accommodations.

That’s why Mercy Corps is partnering with organizations to ensure people
from marginalized communities can get the support they need. Below are
stories from our partners working with Ukrainian refugees who are Romani.

"When you help others, you help yourself"


[ [link removed] ][IMG]
Olena Vaidalovich (center), a human rights activist and lawyer with a
local organization which promotes multiculturalism and
anti-discrimination, supports Ukrainian refugees from the Romani
community.


When the war broke out in Ukraine, Olena Vaidalovich and her mother fled
to Warsaw. Although she was feeling the trauma of her own experience, she
wanted to help others. She joined a Mercy Corps partner organization,
providing legal aid, psychological support, language classes, and other
assistance to Ukrainian refugees who are Romani.

Olena’s own experiences with discrimination inspired her to become a
lawyer.

"I’m a Romani woman myself. I know what it means," she says. "I want to
bring some changes in the situation of Romani people and it’s very
important to dedicate my work to my community and to raise awareness of
their capacities."

She hopes that the organization can be a place where people can seek
support, but ultimately, a place of empowerment where people will feel
strong and independent.

A warm welcome after crossing the border

Nadiia Hornak and her six children fled from Lviv in August after the
sirens resumed in anticipation of bombing. Nadiia, who was pregnant with
her sixth child at the time, no longer felt her kids would be safe. They
arrived in Poland and connected with one of Mercy Corps’ partner
organizations that provided them with immediate support: transportation,
shelter, job seeking assistance, and psychosocial services.


[ [link removed] ][IMG]
Nadiia plays with her daughter Sonia at a Mercy Corps partner and
community center that works with marginalized migrants in Poland.


"We needed a lot," she says. "The children were exhausted after the
journey, and we received hot meals immediately, and they took care of us."

As a Romani woman, Nadiia has experienced discrimination all her life.
Even as she was crossing the border, a man yelled and swore at her. But
she was happy to find a warm reception with Mercy Corps’ partner
organization. She says "most people do not see or treat Roma fairly," so
she is happy the organization is accepting and staffed by many people who
are also Romani.

Mercy Corps is doing all
we can to help people in Ukraine, Syria, and beyond to rebuild their lives
and livelihoods in the midst of crisis.

[ [link removed] ]As we
approach the one-year mark of the Ukraine war, we ask you to consider
becoming a monthly donor — a Mercy Corps Partner In Possibility. Help
sustain our impact in 40+ countries worldwide.



[ [link removed] ]Give monthly [ [link removed] ]▸


Thank you again for being part of this extraordinary
response to an extraordinary moment. We will continue to send you updates
in the weeks ahead.

Sincerely,

The Mercy Corps team

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P.O. Box 37800, Boone, IA 50037-4800

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