Frontline Reports
Transforming the Lives of Children Through Early Childhood Development Centers
In communities around the world, parents and caregivers dream about their children’s futures, hoping to see them grow and thrive. The first five years of a child’s life are an essential piece in realizing those dreams, providing critical building blocks for lifelong development.
However, for many parents and caregivers in Burundi, balancing the developmental needs of young children with the financial responsibilities of supporting a family can seem overwhelming. With few childcare options, families are often left with a daily, impossible choice: leave their children home alone or lose the earnings or harvest from that day’s work.
This choice is even more unimaginable for children who have unique developmental needs that, if unmet, can leave them vulnerable to a life-time of challenges — children like Rita.
A Neighbor in Need
When Rita was only two, her mother was violently attacked and killed while carrying her daughter on her back. Rita was injured and left in a coma for three-weeks. When she woke up, she had lost her speech and struggled to socialize with other children, often showing aggressive behavior.
Rita’s aunt took her in, but was overwhelmed by the daily demands of both caring and providing financially for her. She couldn’t leave Rita home alone. She also couldn’t stop working if she wanted to put food on their table.
In her family’s time of need, Rita’s aunt turned to the support of her local community for help. That’s when she connected with one of World Relief’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centers.
Caring for the Child and the Caregivers
In partnership with UNICEF Burundi and local communities, we have opened 11 ECD Centers throughout World Relief Burundi’s Church Empowerment Zones. Each center is run by members of the local community and serves up to 50 children ages two to five. Centers provide trusted care, a nutritious daily meal and plenty of opportunities to socialize and play with other children in a safe environment.
Not only do the centers give parents peace of mind, knowing their children are safe and well cared for while they work, but they are also helping reshape the care of children throughout the community — including back at home.
ECD Center volunteers, many of whom are parents themselves, are trained in positive parenting, child protection, child development and nutrition — lessons they apply and share at the centers, in their neighborhoods and in their own homes.
In a country where currently 56% of children suffer chronic malnutrition, 90% of children ages 1-14 experience physical punishment by caregivers and only 7% of children ages three to five attend early childhood development programs, World Relief Burundi’s ECD Centers are playing a critical role in helping local communities lay a foundation from which children can reach their full potential.
A Life Transformed
For Rita, enrolling in her community’s ECD Center has transformed her life. When she first began attending, she struggled to connect with her classmates. However, through the sensitive social and emotional care she’s received there, Rita has now regained her speech, shares toys and plays well with other children and shows positive behaviors at home and in the community!
While not all children will face the challenges Rita has, the same community-driven programming that helped her can help more families navigate life’s obstacles. By caring well for those experiencing vulnerability, we can uplift whole communities and help more children reach their full potential.
The Path to a Brighter Future
So far, with the support of UNICEF and other donors, World Relief Burundi has reached over 500 children under the age of five through their 11 pilot ECD Centers. The program has garnered praise from parents, community leaders and even primary school teachers who note that children who have attended the centers outshine their peers in their first year of primary school.
Whatsmore, the child development tools developed during the pilot program have been so successful that the government of Burundi has approved them for national scale up. We will be starting seven more ECD Centers in Burundi before the end of the year, allowing even more families to thrive.
At World Relief, we want to see every child have every opportunity to reach their full potential, and we believe local communities are best positioned to help realize that dream. World Relief Burundi’s community-driven ECD Centers are playing an essential role in caring for both children and caregivers as, together, we move towards a brighter future.
Pave the path to lasting change for more families like Rita’s. When you join The Path — World Relief’s community of monthly givers — you partner with parents and churches around the world who are building a brighter future for their children. It takes all of us to pave the path to lasting change, and you have a role to play.
Dana Pair currently serves as Program Officer at World Relief. Prior to joining World Relief, she worked in adolescent girls programming in the Portland, Oregon area. She is passionate about empowering women and girls to bring sustainable change to their communities.
One Year Later: The Church Still Moves In Haiti
“One year later, the need in Haiti is great, but…churches continue to be agents of change in their communities, and men, women and children continue to receive support from their local churches.”
Shaken
Thirty-year-old Jeannette was away from home the day a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti in August 2021.
“I was out and my three children were at home when the earthquake hit,” Jeannette said. “I felt as if the earth was opening up and wanted to swallow me. I begged God to save my children who had not yet gotten out of bed.”
When the shaking stopped, she returned home to discover that one side of her house had collapsed. Miraculously, though, her children survived!
The earthquake killed 2,248 people and injured 12,763, while 344 others are still missing. At the same time, 53,000 houses were destroyed leaving thousands of families homeless, and another 77,006 homes were damaged.
For women like Jeannette, earthquakes pose threats that extend beyond just the initial disaster alone. Ongoing instability in Haiti has left insufficient national infrastructure to conduct disaster responses, and the remote locations in which they live make it difficult for other NGOs to respond.
And yet, thanks in large part to relationships that were built in 2016, a network of local churches was there to respond.
United Through Disaster
In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew barrelled through southern Haiti, causing incalculable damage and devastation for the millions of Haitian citizens living in the area. Amidst the damage and destruction, World Relief invited 50 local church leaders, like Claire Audrique, into a collaborative relief effort.
“We were very siloed as churches. Never before did we pastors gather to eat or rejoice together. I feel our lack of unity did more harm than Hurricane Matthew ever could.” – Pastor Audrique
After several weeks of training with World Relief, the pastors and their congregations embraced a new position of strength and purpose and began working together, providing immediate assistance for 6,000 of the most affected families — removing debris, supplying food and repairing homes for those without shelter.
These 50 congregations would continue to work together, forming the Les Cayes Church Empowerment Zone (CEZ). Over the next five years, these churches would:
- restore the agricultural livelihoods of thousands of families in their community
- start a weekly soup kitchen for elderly widows
- build a cross-denominational ministry for couples and families
- make monthly visits to the local prison
- pool their resources on a monthly basis to fund food and hygiene kits for the sick in the local sanatorium
- start a professional school and launch ministries for women and children
The Church Responds Again
In Les Cayes, where insufficient national infrastructure had been lacking, the church had become the catalyst for rebuilding and renewal. And in 2021, they were there to rebuild and renew again.
In the two weeks following the 2021 earthquake, Pastor Audrigue and the Les Cayes Church Empowerment Zone mobilized 105 churches to respond — that’s more than double the amount of churches equipped to respond in 2016.
Together, they identified and served more than 4,400 families and individuals like Jeannette by providing hygiene, food and shelter supplies.
“After the earthquake, I was left with nothing but my children. We spent many nights sleeping outside in the yard,” Jeannette said. “The assistance from World Relief really helped us a lot. Thanks to this assistance we had provision for many days and we thank God for that.”
A Church for the Future
One year after the earthquake, Haiti still faces significant challenges including a political crisis following the assassination of their president on July 7, 2021. As a result, the security situation continues to deteriorate.
Nevertheless, the churches in our CEZs continue to serve their communities faithfully. In the Les Cayes CEZ, pastors tell stories of the support that people received immediately following the earthquake, and they dream of future support that will be given. Pastors and communities learned are now more committed than ever to working together and serving the most vulnerable in their communities.
Meanwhile, World Relief continues its earthquake response work, partnering with Habitat for Humanity Haiti to repair 102 homes that were partially damaged, and train local masons to build earthquake-resistant homes.
While 11 homes are currently being built, the lessons learned through the construction of these homes will serve the community for years to come.
World Relief Haiti and our local churches have played a part in this project by identifying the most vulnerable people in the community as recipients of these new and repaired homes.
One year later, the need in Haiti is great, but the lessons in collaboration and solidarity have only strengthened the community’s resolve. Churches continue to be agents of change in their communities, and men, women and children continue to receive support from their local churches.
When headlines fade, World Relief remains, strengthening communities in places like Haiti to better respond the next time disaster strikes. Learn more about our disaster response efforts and join us.
Esther Pyram Louissaint is the Director of Programs for World Relief Haiti. Esther has over 11 years of experience working in church and parachurch organizations. She started with World Relief Haiti as the CEZ Program Manager in 2016, and has developed deep and lasting relationships with many pastors and churches all across Haiti. She is passionate about life, the church, and the well-being of others. She is a servant leader who values excellence, discipline, respect, integrity, and humility in everything. Esther holds an MBA in Business Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Communication.
Lydia Dawson serves as World Relief’s Humanitarian and Disaster Response Unit Program Officer in Sudan, and in disaster response worldwide. Prior to joining World Relief, Lydia worked in homeless services and community development in Oregon and California. She is passionate about equity and honor for underrepresented groups, both locally and internationally.
One Year Later: The Church Still Moves In Haiti
“One year later, the need in Haiti is great, but…churches continue to be agents of change in their communities, and men, women and children continue to receive support from their local churches.”
Shaken
Thirty-year-old Jeannette was away from home the day a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti in August 2021.
“I was out and my three children were at home when the earthquake hit,” Jeannette said. “I felt as if the earth was opening up and wanted to swallow me. I begged God to save my children who had not yet gotten out of bed.”
When the shaking stopped, she returned home to discover that one side of her house had collapsed. Miraculously, though, her children survived!
The earthquake killed 2,248 people and injured 12,763, while 344 others are still missing. At the same time, 53,000 houses were destroyed leaving thousands of families homeless, and another 77,006 homes were damaged.
For women like Jeannette, earthquakes pose threats that extend beyond just the initial disaster alone. Ongoing instability in Haiti has left insufficient national infrastructure to conduct disaster responses, and the remote locations in which they live make it difficult for other NGOs to respond.
And yet, thanks in large part to relationships that were built in 2016, a network of local churches was there to respond.
United Through Disaster
In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew barrelled through southern Haiti, causing incalculable damage and devastation for the millions of Haitian citizens living in the area. Amidst the damage and destruction, World Relief invited 50 local church leaders, like Claire Audrique, into a collaborative relief effort.
“We were very siloed as churches. Never before did we pastors gather to eat or rejoice together. I feel our lack of unity did more harm than Hurricane Matthew ever could.” – Pastor Audrique
After several weeks of training with World Relief, the pastors and their congregations embraced a new position of strength and purpose and began working together, providing immediate assistance for 6,000 of the most affected families — removing debris, supplying food and repairing homes for those without shelter.
These 50 congregations would continue to work together, forming the Les Cayes Church Empowerment Zone (CEZ). Over the next five years, these churches would:
- restore the agricultural livelihoods of thousands of families in their community
- start a weekly soup kitchen for elderly widows
- build a cross-denominational ministry for couples and families
- make monthly visits to the local prison
- pool their resources on a monthly basis to fund food and hygiene kits for the sick in the local sanatorium
- start a professional school and launch ministries for women and children
The Church Responds Again
In Les Cayes, where insufficient national infrastructure had been lacking, the church had become the catalyst for rebuilding and renewal. And in 2021, they were there to rebuild and renew again.
In the two weeks following the 2021 earthquake, Pastor Audrigue and the Les Cayes Church Empowerment Zone mobilized 105 churches to respond — that’s more than double the amount of churches equipped to respond in 2016.
Together, they identified and served more than 4,400 families and individuals like Jeannette by providing hygiene, food and shelter supplies.
“After the earthquake, I was left with nothing but my children. We spent many nights sleeping outside in the yard,” Jeannette said. “The assistance from World Relief really helped us a lot. Thanks to this assistance we had provision for many days and we thank God for that.”
A Church for the Future
One year after the earthquake, Haiti still faces significant challenges including a political crisis following the assassination of their president on July 7, 2021. As a result, the security situation continues to deteriorate.
Nevertheless, the churches in our CEZs continue to serve their communities faithfully. In the Les Cayes CEZ, pastors tell stories of the support that people received immediately following the earthquake, and they dream of future support that will be given. Pastors and communities are now more committed than ever to working together and serving the most vulnerable in their communities.
Meanwhile, World Relief continues its earthquake response work, partnering with Habitat for Humanity Haiti to repair 102 homes that were partially damaged, and train local masons to build earthquake-resistant homes.
While 11 homes are currently being built, the lessons learned through the construction of these homes will serve the community for years to come.
World Relief Haiti and our local churches have played a part in this project by identifying the most vulnerable people in the community as recipients of these new and repaired homes.
One year later, the need in Haiti is great, but the lessons in collaboration and solidarity have only strengthened the community’s resolve. Churches continue to be agents of change in their communities, and men, women and children continue to receive support from their local churches.
When headlines fade, World Relief remains, strengthening communities in places like Haiti to better respond the next time disaster strikes. Learn more about our disaster response efforts and join us.
Esther Pyram Louissaint is the Director of Programs for World Relief Haiti. Esther has over 11 years of experience working in church and parachurch organizations. She started with World Relief Haiti as the CEZ Program Manager in 2016, and has developed deep and lasting relationships with many pastors and churches all across Haiti. She is passionate about life, the church and the well-being of others. She is a servant leader who values excellence, discipline, respect, integrity and humility in everything. Esther holds an MBA in Business Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Communication.
Lydia Dawson serves as World Relief’s Humanitarian and Disaster Response Unit Program Officer in Sudan, and in disaster response worldwide. Prior to joining World Relief, Lydia worked in homeless services and community development in Oregon and California. She is passionate about equity and honor for underrepresented groups, both locally and internationally.
The Humble Lion
Samaki mkunje angali mbichi – Bend the fish when it is still wet and fresh
Mauridi Masumbuko admits that he lives by this Swahili proverb, and to hear him talk about his flexibility and adaptability you would think he had a lifetime under his belt to fully comprehend this invaluable lesson.
But Mauridi, known as Simba to his friends, is only 20 years old. The gregarious and excitable young man speaks upon the topics of faith, family and responsibility with wisdom and insight of someone twice his age.
Born and raised in a refugee camp in the region of Kigoma, Tanzania, Simba began attending spiritual classes with his father when he was just three years old. Although the classes were intended for older children, his father knew the importance of teaching children while they were young and impressionable, and Simba absorbed the Baha’i teachings like a sponge.
These fundamental lessons in his faith allowed him to see life through a unique lens. He found peace while shepherding his family goats in the quiet forests of Tanzania. He learned respect for elders when asked to run his father’s bike shop.
He gained responsibility as he earned extra money for his family, selling bags of peanuts at the beginning of local soccer matches. And he felt true kindness from a community that loved their neighbors as if they were family. This was his community.
Simba’s parents welcomed four more children while in Kigoma, and as the family grew, opportunities outside of the camp became more pressing. Collectively the family decided to apply for resettlement in a third country.
“One of the major reasons to go to the U.S. was the schooling opportunity, to provide for our family and [those] back home,” Simba said.
His father had anticipated the obstacles their family would face, and he encouraged them to remember why they left Tanzania. Once in the U.S., Simba recalls his father saying, “It’s not all of these other fancies – focus on what we talked about – our plan.”
“That kept us going…that was our fuel.”
Usiwe mwoga wakuuliza maswali – Do not be afraid of asking questions
On September 15, 2016, Simba’s family arrived in Durham, North Carolina with mixed emotions. The paperwork provided to them in the refugee camp had been in English – the family spoke Swahili – and the stock photos of a house, two cars and an airplane flying overhead led them to believe that it was a picture of their new life waiting for them in the U.S.
Simba laughs about this when recounting the story, but imagine his surprise when he walked into an 800-square-foot two-bedroom apartment outfitted for his seven family members.
The journey to find his new community in Durham was not easy. During his first year of American high school he was bullied, belittled and told to go home.
“[American] culture is way, way different…literally everything is different,” Simba said. “Making friends there it was like way, way easier because everyone was interested in everybody.”
During this time Simba enrolled in the Refugee Youth and Immigrant Services Department (RYIS) at World Relief where he found a mentor, Rob Callus, to help him through these early challenges.
Although his freshman year was unforgiving, Simba found his stride in summer school. Within three months of asking questions, as his mom encouraged him to do daily, he became fluent in English. With the language mastered, he breezed through the academics of high school.
He served as a pseudo-teacher’s assistant for those classmates who had previously laughed at him, stolen his homework and told him to go back from where he came. Simba proceeded to make honor role nearly every semester henceforth. In May of 2019 he was named Durham Public School Student of the Month, and in June of 2020 he was awarded student of the year at C.E. Jordan High School.Â
Mauridi was not just given the nickname Simba by his peers because he happened to like lions, he proudly earned the title proving his strength, courage and bravery.
After graduation, Simba had an opportunity to answer a personal calling to serve Baha’i youth throughout the U.S., teaching many of the fundamental lessons he had learned as a boy in Tanzania.
A year later, he returned to World Relief Durham to serve as a Youth Fellow under the leadership of his mentor Rob.
Jina jema hungara gizani – A good name shines in the dark
Rob created the Youth Fellows program in 2019 as a stepping stone for former youth program participants. Youth Fellows is a paid position at World Relief Durham that helps former World Relief Clients like Simba gain employable skills such as time management, program development and team building while giving equal attention to higher education, civic engagement and personal development.
That summer, Simba became World Relief Durham’s very first Youth Fellow, and he wasted no time diving in and making the most of his new job. His personal experiences provided a unique perspective for Rob and his team, as he could better relate to the youth RYIS intended to serve.
“He already had the bones and tools inside himself,” Rob said. “Our team created spaces for him to let it shine.”
Like many young adults, Simba has a multitude of stressors competing for his time. He is juggling a full-time job as a Youth Fellow, attending college and assisting with his siblings’ education.
“I’ve learned a lot about meeting him where he is at,” Rob said. “When something is bothering him, you can tell. Some days we just need to sit on the bean bag chairs in the office and talk about school work rather than jumping right into the program for the day.”
It is no secret that Simba misses his home in Tanzania, and after hearing him passionately speak about the community and culture which so lovingly embraced him, I understand. When asked what he misses the most, without hesitation he says, “I miss the opportunity to see transformation in yourself.”
After reflecting on this answer, I wish that I had been courageous enough to sit with his raw, genuine and wise response. But in a hurried fix-all American fashion, I told him that he is transforming the community here. He kindly laughed and humbly said that he doesn’t necessarily think in those terms, but he continues to pray for the ability to be of service to others. Simba, the humble lion, you are already living out your prayers.
You can come alongside young men like Simba and create lasting change by partnering with World Relief. Give today to support programs like Youth Fellows or sign up to volunteer today.
Adrienne Morton began volunteering with the local refugee population in 2013, when asked to teach English to a recently resettled family from Myanmar. She went on to serve as a Resettlement and Outreach Coordinator for Lutheran Services Carolinas. In 2019 she received an MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies from The University of London, and currently works as a contract grant and content writer for World Relief Durham. She recently launched BELONG NC, a nonprofit dedicated to providing early education to local immigrant children, in addition to opportunities that empower their stay-at-home caregivers, like herself, to lead and engage in their new community.
Your Family is Coming: The Long Road to Reunion for Refugees
Everyday, people like Ibrahim make the painful decision to leave their homes due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and climate-related factors. Their journeys are often marked by loss, separation and worry for those left behind.
For ten years, Ibrahim carried the weight of being separated from his family. This is his story of enduring hope.
An Impossible Decision
Ibrahim was born and raised in the Darfur region of western Sudan. He worked a variety of jobs — housekeeping, construction, office administration — in order to provide for his family. He was married with three children and a fourth on the way.
While Ibrahim loved his home and community, civil conflict left him feeling uneasy and concerned for his family’s safety.
For decades, Darfur has been embroiled in conflict fueled by ethnic disputes and limited resources. In 2003, a rebel group launched an insurrection in Darfur, protesting what they believed was the Sudanese government’s disregard for non-Arab ethnic groups in the region. In response, the government armed ethnically Arab militias to combat rebels in Darfur.
Despite international attempts at peacebuilding and intervention, the conflict worsened. Militias threatened the lives and livelihoods of non-Arab civilians, burned down thousands of villages, committed sexual violence and blocked aid organizations from delivering much-needed food and medical supplies.
In 2013, as a renewed wave of violence gripped the region, Ibrahim made the heart-wrenching decision to flee Sudan, leaving behind his wife and children, in hopes of finding help.
“There was too much killing, too much fighting,” he said. “It was impossible to live.”
Seeking Safety
Ibrahim arrived in Jordan, where he had heard help was available. He registered with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), meticulously completing his paperwork.
“I always wrote my kids’ names as my family on all the papers — all the dates of birth and everything,” Ibrahim said. He wanted to make sure records of his wife and children, still in Sudan, were included in his case so that they too would be resettled in a new country with him.
Ibrahim found work, sent money home to his family and waited.
Two years went by until one day, Ibrahim learned that his case had been approved for resettlement in the U.S. He passed all required security and health screenings, but because his family was still in Sudan, they were unable to travel with him.
With help from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ibrahim flew to the U.S. in 2016, where World Relief Triad welcomed him to North Carolina.
Ibrahim remembers feeling like he had escaped death.
“When I arrived, I was so grateful for World Relief because they helped me with everything,” Ibrahim said. “They helped me with a place to stay. They were able to find work for me, and they helped until I felt that I could do things for myself.”
And yet, as Ibrahim rebuilt his life in the U.S., he never stopped thinking of his wife and children, still stuck in Sudan. They frequently spoke over the phone — and Ibrahim continued to hope.
“I couldn’t really rest or enjoy all the blessings I had because I kept on thinking about them all the time,” Ibrahim said. “I never felt complete.”
Hoping and Waiting
Now in the U.S., Ibrahim continued working with IOM in the hopes of bringing his family to North Carolina. He was persistent, calling for updates whenever he could.
With IOM’s help, he was eventually able to secure interviews for his wife at the U.S. embassy in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Still, the process crept forward slowly.
Then, in 2019, just when everything finally looked ready to move forward, Ibrahim encountered another obstacle — the president of the United States announced a new executive order banning Sudanese people from traveling to the U.S., Ibrahim’s family included.
Ibrahim remembers being told, “Everything is correct, all the papers are the way they’re supposed to be. There’s just some rules that they’re not allowing people.”
He began to doubt whether he would ever see his wife and children again. “I almost lost hope,” he said.
But then, in 2021, he got a call. A new U.S. presidential administration had reversed the executive order. Over the phone, he heard the long hoped-for words: “Your family is coming.”
Ten years after Ibrahim had to leave his family behind in search of safety, after years of hoping and waiting, they would be reunited at last.
Reunited
In February 2022, Ibrahim gathered with staff and volunteers from World Relief Triad at the airport to welcome his wife and four children to North Carolina.
“I broke down in tears because I hadn’t seen them in 10 years, and now they’re here, and it’s real,” Ibrahim said.
“The little one that I left was only three months; when he came, he was 10 years old. I cannot describe how I felt because I never thought — I was at the point of thinking maybe I will never see them again.”
Now, with his family finally together again, Ibrahim has new hopes.
“My hopes are for my kids,” he said. “For them to get the right education, for them to be able to be good people. I want them to make something for themselves and make me proud… for them to benefit themselves and our new country — the United States.”
Remembering Those Left Behind
Even as Ibrahim and his family continue building their new life together in the U.S., Darfur and the family, friends and neighbors they had to leave behind are never far from his mind.
“People are really suffering there. They don’t have food, they don’t have water, they live in very unsafe, unhealthy conditions,” he said.
The UN estimates 2.5 million people are living in displacement camps across Darfur, and 6.2 million people will need humanitarian assistance in the region within the next year. The same factors — war, violence and persecution — that drove Ibrahim and his family from their home are still impacting people in Sudan today.
At World Relief, we recognize that addressing the drivers of mass displacement requires a multi-faceted and holistic response. In Sudan, World Relief is on the ground providing humanitarian assistance and investing in development and peacebuilding efforts to address the underlying factors contributing to conflict and displacement.
Building a just world means coming alongside families like Ibrahim’s once they’ve reached the U.S. and it means finding lasting solutions to the problems that force families to flee in the first place.
For Ibrahim, his hope for safety and brighter futures for those still in Darfur endures — “I really would like for them to… have a better life for themselves and for their kids.”
Together, we are taking action, hoping and praying for lasting solutions for displaced and separated families like Ibrahim’s both in the U.S. and in countries around the world.
Across the U.S., local World Relief offices rely on partners and volunteers like you to help build welcoming communities. Join them on the path to hope, transformation and lasting change alongside refugees and immigrants like Ibrahim.
Kelly Hill serves as a Content Writer at World Relief. She previously served as Volunteer Services Manager at World Relief Triad in North Carolina before moving to Salt Lake City. With a background in International and Intercultural Communication, she is passionate about the power of story to connect people of diverse experiences.
Abby Ray has been serving as the Communications & Advocacy Coordinator at World Relief’s Triad office since September 2021. She works to amplify the voices of clients, staff and community members by empowering them to share their own stories.
The Drivers of Mass Displacement: Ukraine and Beyond
Nyakaar abandoned her home in South Sudan when armed conflict threatened her village. She found safety in the Bentiu Protection of Civilians camp, a U.N.-run camp for internally displaced South Sudanese people where World Relief operates health and nutrition programming. Shortly after arriving, Nyakaar gave birth to her son, Bone.
In the world today, a record-breaking 117.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes. That’s about 1 in every 78 people that live across the globe.*
While many of us think of refugees when we hear the words “mass displacement,” the majority of displaced people worldwide are actually internally displaced people like Nyakaar and Bone.
The causes of mass displacement are many, and the repercussions reach far and wide. Today, we’re taking a bird’s eye view of the topic of mass displacement to help you understand what causes people to leave their homes, who is fleeing and how people across the globe are joining World Relief to address the drivers of mass displacement and care for those who are displaced.
*These numbers reflect the latest estimates from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. This blog was originally written May 10, 2022 and updated on April 11th, 2023.
What causes mass displacement?
People are displaced from their homes for myriad reasons — persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and climate-related factors to name a few.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been the most recent example of how war can force millions of people to flee their homes. However, there are many other conflicts and crises occurring in the world which are also causing people to flee their homes.
For example, violence in the Darfur region of Sudan has caused many to flee in search of a safe place to live, farm and raise their children. Some of these families remain internally displaced while others have fled across international borders into Chad and other surrounding countries. Apart from the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, 68% of the world’s refugees have come from the following five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar. Though crises like these have received varying levels of media attention, the needs of the displaced remain critical.
Refugees, Asylum Seekers and IDPs
Many times, displaced people flee to regions or countries surrounding their home region, while a smaller percentage relocate to a more distant country. A displaced person can fall under several categories:
- Internally Displaced People
- Refugees
- Asylum Seekers
Internally Displaced People make up the largest category. These are people who have been displaced within their own country. They have been forced to flee their home and region, and have resettled in a different part of the same country in which they already lived. Currently, 61.2 million people are classed as Internally Displaced People.
Refugees make up the next largest group of displaced people. These are people who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution and have crossed an international border to find safety in another country. It’s likely that you’ve read stories of refugees like Bohdan, Abdinasir and Amira — all people who left their home countries due to conflict or persecution, applied for refugee status and were resettled right here in the United States.
Today, there are about 29.3 million people with refugee status in the world.
In 2022, the U.S. has agreed to resettle up to 125,000 refugees plus an additional 100,000 Ukrainians who have fled the Russian invasion. As is evident, there are far more refugees in the world than can be resettled even in a country as large and as resourced as the U.S.
Asylum seekers make up the third and smallest category of displaced people. These are people who have fled to another country, but who have not yet been granted official refugee status. These women, men and children may have to wait years to receive an official status.
Currently, there are about 5.6 million asylum seekers living around the world today.
Host Communities
One final impacted group remains to be identified, and these are the host communities.
Host communities have not been displaced from their homes, but the swift influx of refugees into their communities severely impacts those who already lived in the region. Often host community members need the same support that refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people typically receive.
A large number of refugees can mean reduced access to land and water and can cause a scarcity in resources. For example, in Sudan, conflicts have broken out over land usage, as host communities and displaced people seek to utilize the scarce land and water resources available in the host community area.
World Relief works within these communities to increase access to clean water as well as facilitate peace committees to solve interpersonal conflicts before they grow.
What else is World Relief doing to help?
After a person is displaced, they can either choose to return to their home, or they can resettle in a new location. However, for many, the option to return home is not a viable one, as drivers of displacement often last for generations. World Relief is currently serving displaced people across the globe in several ways:
- In DR Congo, a country that’s facing one of the world’s worst hunger crises, World Relief works with host communities and with displaced people who have returned home by providing agricultural training and farming supplies to help families grow crops to feed their families and sell the surplus in local markets to earn an income.
- Globally, World Relief serves refugees who have crossed the border into our international countries of operation, working with local partners to provide emergency aid to families living in temporary shelters.
- In the U.S., World Relief partners with the U.S. government to resettle refugees. We also serve asylum seekers and other immigrants by providing community connections, legal services and other vital services like ESL classes, job training and more.
- In Sudan, South Sudan and DRC, World Relief serves internally displaced people by equipping local village peace committees and providing health, nutrition, WASH, education, agricultural programming and more.
- World Relief also advocates for the vulnerable when injustice occurs. We believe speaking up along with the poor and oppressed is an important witness to a watching world about the character of Jesus.
Mass displacement remains one of the largest and most challenging crises of our time — a truth that will take intentional coordination and investment between local and international communities, churches, governments and non-profit organizations to address.
At World Relief, we believe Jesus came to earth to love the vulnerable. Jesus didn’t bring hope and salvation from a distance. Instead, he came to us, showed us love and suffered with us. Whether we are welcoming refugees and asylum seekers into our own communities or providing relief to those displaced overseas, we get to be the hands of feet of Jesus, sharing his love to a world in need.
To learn more about how you can help refugees and displaced people in the U.S., visit our private sponsorship page.
Lydia Dawson served as World Relief’s Humanitarian and Disaster Response Unit Program Officer in Sudan, and in disaster response worldwide. Prior to joining World Relief, Lydia worked in homeless services and community development in Oregon and California. She is passionate about equity and honor for underrepresented groups, both locally and internationally.
When Faith Leaders Join the Fight
Around the world, faith leaders are often trusted, respected and influential members of society. For decades, World Relief has seen the impact that working alongside faith leaders and communities can have in the face of natural and man-made disasters.
From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew that the local church was uniquely positioned to support communities through this global disaster. However, it cannot be denied how challenging the pandemic has been for faith communities.
In Rwanda, frequent and serious lockdowns in the first year and a half of the pandemic prevented social and faith gatherings. Faith institutions were closed for months on end, rendering many faith leaders’ ministries and livelihoods a minefield to navigate.
At the same time, faith communities in many countries were largely left out of initial nation-wide responses to COVID-19, including vaccination rollouts. And yet, research has shown that religious factors are the third most frequently cited reason for vaccine hesitancy globally, making involvement of faith actors in COVID-19 vaccination efforts imperative.
Building on our existing work of empowering local churches to serve the most vulnerable, World Relief stepped in to fill these gaps.
Across the globe, we have equipped church leaders with prevention messages and, as vaccines became available, trusted information and training to help accurately inform conversations and decision making in congregations. What’s more, in places like Rwanda, we helped churches provide food and basic necessities to those most impacted by shutdowns.
Together, even as doors closed on church buildings, we were able to support pastors and churches to continue being the church during this crucial time of response. — mobilizing faith communities to care for the vulnerable in the fight against the virus.
Putting the Right Tools in the Right Hands
In Malawi, DR Congo, Kenya and Rwanda, much of our work to engage faith leaders and their communities in the fight against COVID-19 is happening in partnership with USAID through the SCOPE COVID-19 project.
Through SCOPE COVID-19, we have created and organized trainings for faith and community leaders on how to engage faith communities in dialogues promoting COVID prevention and vaccination. These trainings use story-based curriculum created by World Relief and designed to put trusted information in the hands of community and faith leaders.
Access to accurate and updated COVID-19 information has been especially important for people like Uwambajimana Marie Claire in Rwanda. As a prayer leader in her local church, she knew that people were looking to her for guidance on vaccines. “If I could not accept the vaccine,” she said, “no one in the group would accept it.”
As in many places around the world, Marie Claire had heard frightening rumors about the COVID-19 vaccine. Distrust of the vaccine ran deep in her community, and she wanted to find out the truth. So Marie Claire prayed that God would reveal to her what was true.
When she participated in World Relief’s SCOPE COVID-19 training session on Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Marie Claire found answers to her prayer and to her questions about the vaccine.
“During the training,” Marie Claire said, “I heard that to fight against the pandemic, the vaccine is crucial. After hearing examples of many past pandemics that ended, resulting from vaccinations, and hearing the testimony of other believers who were vaccinated, I realized that I was headed in the wrong direction.”
Marie Claire decided to get vaccinated, and now she’s encouraging others in her community to join the fight against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated, too.
The World Relief COVID-19 curriculum used to train people like Marie Claire has been so successful at mobilizing faith communities at both the local and national level against COVID-19 that it has been adopted by the ministries of health in Kenya and Rwanda to be used by other partners throughout the countries.
Multiplying Faith Leader Impact
World Relief is currently working closely with over 11,230 local faith leaders through SCOPE COVID-19. As these leaders are equipped with accurate information, they’re driving conversations about COVID-19 in their communities.
Some leaders are leveraging regular radio talk shows and have reached an estimated 11,342,732 people across four countries so far. Others incorporate reliable prevention and vaccine information into faith gatherings or visit members of their communities door-to-door to share information and provide guidance.
Many congregants are reporting that the example of their faith leaders is building their confidence in the effectiveness of prevention measures and the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
This is especially making an impact on vaccine uptake in these communities. To date, World Relief has directly supported the administration of vaccines to 241,590 individuals through SCOPE COVID-19.
One World Relief Rwanda volunteer shared that when vaccines first became available, they couldn’t find a single person in their faith community willing to get vaccinated. “[But] since faith leaders got involved,” they said, “it’s a different story. The church engagement in this fight has obviously made a tremendous impact.”
Leading the Way in Faith
Today, we are continuing to press forward alongside faith leaders in the fight against COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through SCOPE COVID-19, we’ve seen once again that faith leaders — when engaged consistently and intentionally at the national and local levels — can and will help their communities meet the needs of the most vulnerable.
Even as vaccination rates increase, the residual effects of COVID-19 remain devastating and the need for local communities of faith to act in love and mercy towards their neighbors remains high. At World Relief, we remain committed to equipping faith leaders around the world to lead their communities towards health, restoration and transformation.
Read more about our global response to COVID-19 and how you can help us care for those most affected by the pandemic.
Sonia Karibagiza is a Rwandan Communications Specialist with 10 years of technical experience. She is passionate about educating the public and ensuring their safety. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, she has been responding as a part of various teams implementing communication strategy under the Rwanda Joint Task Force on COVID-19, including managing World Relief’s SCOPE COVID-19 project in partnership with USAID until February 2022. As the project manager, she coordinated engagement of local leaders, health actors and faith leaders.
8 Things You Need To Know About the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis
A full-scale invasion of Ukraine is underway. More than 10 million Ukrainian women, men and children have been forced to flee their homes, nearly 4 million of whom have fled to other countries. Together, we can respond.
World Relief is currently working with partners on the ground in Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Moldova and Western Ukraine to provide lodging, medical assistance, food and other basic necessities to those who have fled. As the situation continues to unfold, we are committed to keeping you updated and informed. Read on to learn more about what’s happening in Ukraine, the growing refugee crisis and what you can do to help.
Updated on March 29, 2022
1. What’s going on in Ukraine and why are people fleeing?
Russian-Ukrainian tension has existed since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the then largest country in the world suddenly collapsed into 15 smaller European nations, including Ukraine. At the time, Vladimir Putin, now president of Russia, called the collapse ​​the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.” Since the fall, Putin has desired to reclaim the lost territory, which he sees as “a single whole.”
Today, threatened by the expansion of Western influence and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization — Russia feels a greater need and urgency than ever to exert and protect its influence in the region. The last month saw a huge troop buildup along Ukrainian borders, and on Thursday, February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the nation. Civilian targets are not being spared, as indiscriminate bombing has damaged residential buildings, hospitals, schools and crucial infrastrcuture that supplies heat, water and electricity to citizens.
As of March 29th, nearly 4 million refugees have fled across neighboring borders. This number is estimated to grow to over seven million during the coming weeks and months.
2. Where are people going? What’s happening at the borders?
Most Ukrainians are fleeing for their closest border with neighboring European countries. The sudden wave of people gathering at border crossings has created large humanitarian needs. These locations are in urgent need of basic necessities including water, food, heat and shelter as the wait at the border for processing can take three to four days. As of March 29th, Poland has been the primary recipient of refugees, with over  2.3 million refugees crossing. Other countries that are seeing large numbers* of refugees are:
- Hungary 359,197
- Moldova 385,222
- Slovakia 278,238
- Romania 602,461
- Russia 271,254
- Belarus 9,875
Additionally, nearly 6.5 million Ukrainians remain displaced inside Ukraine.
*These numbers reflect reports as of March 29th, 2022.
3. Who is fleeing?
Tragically, it is mostly women and children who are crossing the borders alone. Men between the ages of 18-60 have been asked by Ukrainian President Zelensky to stay behind to join the defense forces. This means women and children are leaving home without their husbands, fathers and brothers. This is also resulting in grave concerns about security and protection as many young women and children without adult guardians are crossing unaccompanied without money or visas, making them extremely susceptible to sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking. UNICEF, IOM and others are mobilizing protection units to be spread along the border crossings.
4. There has been talk of discrimination at the border. What’s going on there?
There is a large concern about third-country nationals — citizens of other countries who were in Ukraine at the time war began. Many were students studying in Ukraine from Africa. Initial reports indicated that many of these individuals were not being permitted to cross the border out of Ukraine to Poland with others, and were actually barricaded for a time in shelters without basic expected facilities. Furthermore, many others without documentation (passports, etc.) were simply refused shelter and instead temporarily detained. After swift international media concern, this problem seems to have been resolved and officials are now allowing everyone to enter Poland regardless of ethnicity, refugee status or documentation.
5. Are there any policies in place in the E.U. and/or U.S. that could help protect Ukrainian Refugees?
Poland is currently considering passing a Parliamentary Act giving temporary residence rights to refugees coming in from Ukraine which would permit people to work and live in the country. This would be hugely beneficial to the millions seeking to rebuild their lives following this conflict.
In terms of U.S. policies, earlier this week the Biden administration granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians who are already in the U.S., allowing those whose temporary visa may be about to expire or who may have overstayed a temporary visa to stay lawfully in the U.S. and be authorized to work to support themselves, rather than being required to return to Ukraine at a time when doing so would be incredibly dangerous. We’re thankful for this action.
Additionally, the White House announced last week that it would resettle up to 100,000 Ukrainians to the U.S. and provide more than $1 billion in humanitarian aide to those affected by the crisis.
The Biden administration and Congress should continue to focus on rebuilding the U.S. refugee resettlement program and our asylum system so that Ukrainians and others who have fled their homes with credible fear of persecution can find refuge in the U.S. going forward.
6. Will Ukrainian refugees come to the U.S?
The Biden administration announced last week that it would resettle up to 100,000 Ukrainians to the U.S.
Historically, a significant number of Ukrainians have come to the United States, including many admitted through the U.S. refugee resettlement program through a specific provision known as the Lautenberg Amendment, which offers resettlement to particular religious minorities from the Former Soviet Union. Â
World Relief has resettled over 13,000 refugees from Ukraine over the past 18 years; in fact, the 7,300 Ukrainians whom World Relief has resettled just in the past decade represent nearly 40 percent of all Ukrainian refugees resettled to the U.S. during that time frame. Our hearts and prayers are with the many Ukranians we’ve walked alongside— including many who have joined our staff in the United States — who are originally from Ukraine and who, are now deeply concerned for loved ones still within the country.
More information for Ukrainians in the United States is here.
7. What is World Relief doing to help Ukrainians?
World Relief is currently working with partners on the ground in Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Moldova and Western Ukraine to provide lodging, medical assistance, food and other basic necessities to those who have fled. You can listen to an update from one of our partners here.
We are also ready to resettle Ukrainian refugees whenever we have the opportunity and are providing assistance to those already in the U.S. who are desperately seeking help for their families. The situation is changing rapidly, and so are the ways in which we will be called to respond.
In all things, we are constantly lifting those in need up in prayer — whether for peace in Ukraine or relief from disasters around the world.
8. How can I help?
PRAY: As in all things, we first turn to prayer. Pray for peace in Ukraine, for wisdom and courage for the global leaders involved, and for faith and comfort for the families suffering in the midst of this conflict right now.
ADVOCATE:Â You can urge the Biden continue administration to provide emergency humanitarian funding to meet the immediate needs of those who are displaced, as well as vulnerable Ukrainians who remain in Ukraine, including by partnering with local organizations in Ukraine and neighboring countries. You can also encourage countries of refuge to continue to provide protection for displaced Ukrainians by processing and providing legal protections for refugees and other displaced persons.
GIVE: You can offer financial support at this crucial time by giving to World Relief’s Disaster Response fund, mobilizing our partners, churches and staff to respond to the critical needs of the most vulnerable needlessly suffering in Ukraine and around the world
8 Things You Need To Know About the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis
Over the last week, our hearts have been broken as we watch images of mothers and children fleeing Ukraine while their husbands, sons, fathers and brothers stay behind to fight. Indiscriminate violence is placing innocent lives in danger, with reports already indicating a tragic loss of life. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are beginning to come to terms with the shocking reality of life as a refugee. As the situation continues to unfold, we will keep you updated and informed. Read on to learn more about what’s happening in Ukraine, the growing refugee crisis, and what you can do to help.
1. What’s going on in Ukraine and why are people fleeing?
Russian-Ukrainian tension has existed since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Then, the largest country in the world suddenly collapsed into 15 smaller European nations, including Ukraine. At the time, Vladimir Putin, now president of Russia, called the collapse ​​the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.” Since the fall, Putin has desired to reclaim the lost territory, which he sees as “a single whole.”Â
Today, threatened by the expansion of Western influence and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization — Russia feels a greater need and urgency than ever to exert and protect its influence in the region.
February saw a huge troop buildup along Ukrainian borders. On Thursday, February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the country.
Civilian targets are not being spared. Indiscriminate bombing has damaged residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and crucial infrastructure that supplies heat, water, and electricity to citizens.Â
As of March 3rd, over one million refugees had fled across neighboring borders. This number is estimated to grow to over seven million during the coming weeks and months.
2. Where are people going? What’s happening at the borders?
Most Ukrainians are fleeing for their closest border with neighboring European countries. The sudden wave of people gathering at border crossings has created large humanitarian needs. These locations are in urgent need of basic necessities including water, food, heat and shelter as the wait at the border for processing can take three to four days. As of March 3rd, Poland has been the primary recipient of refugees, with over 548,000 refugees crossing. Other countries that are seeing large numbers* of refugees are:
- Hungary 139,686
- Moldova 97,827
- Slovakia 72,200
- Romania 51,261
- Russia 47,800
- Belarus 357
*These numbers reflect reports as of March 3rd, 2022.
3. Who is fleeing?
Tragically, it is mostly women and children who are crossing the borders alone. Men between the ages of 18-60 have been asked by Ukrainian President Zelensky to stay behind to join the defense forces. This means women and children are leaving home without their husbands, fathers and brothers. This is also resulting in grave concerns about security and protection as many young women and children without adult guardians are crossing unaccompanied without money or visas. Unfortunately, this makes them extremely susceptible to sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking. UNICEF, IOM and others are mobilizing protection units to be spread along the border crossings.
4. There has been talk of discrimination at the border. What’s going on there?
There is a large concern about third-country nationals — citizens of other countries who were in Ukraine at the time war began. Many were students studying in Ukraine from Africa. Initial reports indicated that many of these individuals were not being permitted to cross the border out of Ukraine to Poland with others, and were actually barricaded for a time in shelters without basic expected facilities. Furthermore, many others without documentation (passports, etc.) were simply refused shelter and instead temporarily detained. However, after swift international media concern, this problem seems to have been resolved and officials are now allowing everyone to enter Poland regardless of ethnicity, refugee status or documentation.
5. Are there any policies in place in the E.U. and/or U.S. that could help protect Ukrainian Refugees?
Poland is currently considering passing a Parliamentary Act giving temporary residence rights to refugees coming in from Ukraine which would permit people to work and live in the country. This would be hugely beneficial to the millions seeking to rebuild their lives following this conflict.
In terms of U.S. policies, the Biden administration granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians who are already in the U.S. This allows those whose temporary visas may be about to expire or who may have overstayed a temporary visa to stay lawfully in the U.S. Additionally, this also allows them to gain work authorization to work to support themselves, rather than being required to return to Ukraine at a time when doing so would be incredibly dangerous. We’re thankful for this action.
Beyond that, the Biden administration and Congress should continue to focus on rebuilding the U.S. refugee resettlement program and our asylum system so that Ukrainians and others who have fled their homes with credible fear of persecution can find refuge in the U.S. going forward.
6. Will Ukrainian refugees come to the U.S?
Historically, a significant number of Ukrainians have come to the United States, including many admitted through the U.S. refugee resettlement program through a specific provision known as the Lautenberg Amendment, which offers resettlement to particular religious minorities from the Former Soviet Union.
World Relief has resettled over 13,000 refugees from Ukraine over the past 18 years. In fact, in the last 10 years, World Relief resettled 7,300 Ukrainians. That is nearly 40 percent of all Ukrainian refugees resettled to the U.S. during that time.
Our hearts and prayers are with the many Ukrainians we’ve walked alongside. This includes many on staff in the United States who are originally from Ukraine. And who are now deeply concerned for loved ones still within the country.  Â
While some fleeing Ukraine could eventually qualify for resettlement to the U.S., most are going to neighboring countries in Europe . So far, these countries have been willing to offer safety and protection.Â
We do anticipate that some Ukrainians who already have temporary U.S. visas may travel to the U.S. Once here, they may consider seeking asylum. World Relief’s immigration legal services teams are actively providing guidance to those in the U.S. on the legal possibilities for seeking asylum or pursuing family reunification visas.Â
More information for Ukrainians in the United States is here.
7. What is World Relief doing to help Ukrainians?
World Relief is currently preparing to send funds to our partners in the region. These partners are providing assistance on the ground.Â
We are also ready to resettle Ukrainian refugees when we have the opportunity. And we are providing assistance to those already in the U.S. who are desperately seeking help for their families. The situation is changing rapidly. But so are the ways we can respond.
Above all, we are constantly lifting those in need up in prayer — whether for peace in Ukraine or relief from disasters around the world.
8. How can I help?
PRAY: As in all things, we first turn to prayer. Pray for peace in Ukraine, for wisdom and courage for the global leaders involved, and for faith and comfort for the families suffering in the midst of this conflict right now.
ADVOCATE:Â You can urge the Biden administration to provide emergency humanitarian funding. This will help meet the immediate needs of displaced Ukrainians and those who remain in Ukraine. The response will include partnering with local organizations in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Additionally, you can encourage countries of refuge to continue to provide protection for displaced Ukrainians by processing and providing legal protections for refugees and other displaced persons.
GIVE: Finally, you can offer financial support at this crucial time by giving to World Relief’s Disaster Response fund, mobilizing our partners, churches and staff to respond to the critical needs of the most vulnerable needlessly suffering in Ukraine and around the world
8 Things You Need To Know About the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis
A full-scale invasion of Ukraine is underway. More than 14 million Ukrainian women, men and children have been forced to flee their homes, nearly 6.8 million of whom have fled to other countries. Together, we can respond.Â
World Relief is currently working with partners on the ground in Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Moldova and Western Ukraine to provide lodging, medical assistance, food and other basic necessities to those who have fled. As the situation continues to unfold, we are committed to keeping you updated and informed. Read on to learn more about what’s happening in Ukraine, the growing refugee crisis and what you can do to help.
Updated on June 1, 2022
1. What’s going on in Ukraine and why are people fleeing?
Russian-Ukrainian tension has existed since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the then largest country in the world suddenly collapsed into 15 smaller European nations, including Ukraine. At the time, Vladimir Putin, now president of Russia, called the collapse ​​the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.” Since the fall, Putin has desired to reclaim the lost territory, which he sees as “a single whole.”
Today, threatened by the expansion of Western influence and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization — Russia feels a greater need and urgency than ever to exert and protect its influence in the region. The last month saw a huge troop buildup along Ukrainian borders, and on Thursday, February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the nation. Civilian targets are not being spared, as indiscriminate bombing has damaged residential buildings, hospitals, schools and crucial infrastrcuture that supplies heat, water and electricity to citizens.
As of June 1st, nearly 6.8 million refugees have fled across neighboring borders. This number is estimated to continue growing during the coming weeks and months.
2. Where are people going? What’s happening at the borders?
Most Ukrainians are fleeing for their closest border with neighboring European countries. The sudden wave of people gathering at border crossings has created large humanitarian needs. These locations are in urgent need of basic necessities including water, food, heat and shelter as the wait at the border for processing can take three to four days. As of June 1st, Poland has been the primary recipient of refugees, with over 3.5 million refugees crossing. Other countries that are seeing large numbers* of refugees are:
- Romania 972,203
- Russia 945,007
- Hungary 654,664
- Moldova 473,690
- Slovakia 446,755
- Belarus 27,308
Additionally, more than 7 million Ukrainians remain displaced inside Ukraine.
*These numbers reflect reports as of June 1st, 2022.
3. Who is fleeing?
Tragically, it is mostly women and children who are crossing the borders alone. Men between the ages of 18-60 have been asked by Ukrainian President Zelensky to stay behind to join the defense forces. This means women and children are leaving home without their husbands, fathers and brothers. This is also resulting in grave concerns about security and protection as many young women and children without adult guardians are crossing unaccompanied without money or visas, making them extremely susceptible to sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking. UNICEF, IOM and others are mobilizing protection units to be spread along the border crossings.
4. There has been talk of discrimination at the border. What’s going on there?
There is a large concern about third-country nationals — citizens of other countries who were in Ukraine at the time war began. Many were students studying in Ukraine from Africa. Initial reports indicated that many of these individuals were not being permitted to cross the border out of Ukraine to Poland with others, and were actually barricaded for a time in shelters without basic expected facilities. Furthermore, many others without documentation (passports, etc.) were simply refused shelter and instead temporarily detained. After swift international media concern, this problem seems to have been resolved and officials are now allowing everyone to enter Poland regardless of ethnicity, refugee status or documentation.
5. Are there any policies in place in the E.U. and/or U.S. that could help protect Ukrainian Refugees?
Poland has passed a Parliamentary Act granting temporary residence rights and assistance to refugees coming from Ukraine, permitting people to work, attend school and live in the country.
In terms of U.S. policies, the Biden administration has granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians who are already in the U.S., allowing those whose temporary visa may be about to expire or who may have overstayed a temporary visa to stay lawfully in the U.S. and be authorized to work to support themselves, rather than being required to return to Ukraine at a time when doing so would be incredibly dangerous. We’re thankful for this action.
In March, the White House announced that it would resettle up to 100,000 Ukrainians to the U.S. and provide more than $1 billion in humanitarian aide to those affected by the crisis. In April, the administration also announced a new, streamlined process to welcome Ukrainians called “Uniting for Ukraine.” Through the program, U.S. based individuals, churches and organizations can apply to sponsor Ukrainian citizens displaced by Russia’s aggression during a temporary, 2-year stay in the U.S.
The Biden administration and Congress should continue to focus on rebuilding the U.S. refugee resettlement program and our asylum system so that Ukrainians and others who have fled their homes with credible fear of persecution can find refuge in the U.S. going forward.
6. Will Ukrainian refugees come to the U.S?
The Biden administration announced in March that it would resettle up to 100,000 Ukrainians to the U.S.
Historically, a significant number of Ukrainians have come to the United States, including many admitted through the U.S. refugee resettlement program through a specific provision known as the Lautenberg Amendment, which offers resettlement to particular religious minorities from the Former Soviet Union.
World Relief has resettled over 13,000 refugees from Ukraine over the past 18 years; in fact, the 7,300 Ukrainians whom World Relief has resettled just in the past decade represent nearly 40 percent of all Ukrainian refugees resettled to the U.S. during that time frame. Our hearts and prayers are with the many Ukranians we’ve walked alongside— including many who have joined our staff in the United States — who are originally from Ukraine and who, are now deeply concerned for loved ones still within the country.
More information for Ukrainians in the United States is here.
7. What is World Relief doing to help Ukrainians?
World Relief is currently working with partners on the ground in Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Moldova and Western Ukraine to provide lodging, medical assistance, food and other basic necessities to those who have fled. You can listen to an update from one of our partners here.
We are also continuing to resettle Ukrainian refugees through the Lautenberg program whenever we have the opportunity and are providing assistance to those already in the U.S. who are desperately seeking help for their families. The situation is changing rapidly, and so are the ways in which we will be called to respond.
In all things, we are constantly lifting those in need up in prayer — whether for peace in Ukraine or relief from disasters around the world.
8. How can I help?
PRAY: As in all things, we first turn to prayer. Pray for peace in Ukraine, for wisdom and courage for the global leaders involved, and for faith and comfort for the families suffering in the midst of this conflict right now.
ADVOCATE: You can urge the Biden administration to continue providing emergency humanitarian funding to meet the immediate needs of those who are displaced, as well as vulnerable Ukrainians who remain in Ukraine, including by partnering with local organizations in Ukraine and neighboring countries. You can also encourage countries of refuge to continue to provide protection for displaced Ukrainians by processing and providing legal protections for refugees and other displaced persons.
GIVE: You can offer financial support at this crucial time by giving to World Relief’s Disaster Response fund, mobilizing our partners, churches and staff to respond to the critical needs of the most vulnerable needlessly suffering in Ukraine and around the world.