The Hidden Cost of An Ongoing War9/23/2024 caring for people with disabilities in regions in crisis When the war reached their front yard in 2022, Liudmila and her son had to flee their home in Bakmut. Liudmila recalled her beloved small town in eastern Ukraine, a place filled with roses, and numerous schools for the town’s children. “The best city on Earth. That’s how the local people often called it,” she said. In May 2023, President Zelenskyy said, “Bakmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing left in this place.”
Luidmila’s adult son, Dmytro (38), is one of 261,000 people with intellectual disabilities living in Ukraine. National health and governmental organizations estimate some 2.7million people there live with at least one, and often multiple, disabilities. Humanitarian organizations and advocates consistently note that it is the sick, elderly, and disabled – those who are already challenged to get information and receive equal and adequate care – who are disproportionately affected by war and natural disaster. Ukraine Response8/27/2024 "acting in alliance with the Spirit of love" In early 2022, in the days immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, humanitarian concerns and response focused on border assistance, transportation, secure shelter, sufficient and nutritious food, and financial support for those fleeing to join family and friends elsewhere. As the war persists into its third year, partners have focused on helping rebuild in-country and assisting those who have sought safer life in new places.
Drought & Flooding : a story of extremes8/12/2024 climate change affects communities of all kinds Nangarhar province, Afghanistan; photo - Community World Service Asia Across the United States, and in every region of the world, the impact of climate change presents a dramatic and often dangerous challenge, as natural disasters increase in both frequency and severity. Populations are displaced from regions and even across borders. Health, wellbeing, and livelihoods are pressed to the limit against disruption from drought, flood, and storms. Week of Compassion and our ecumenical partners continue to name climate change as a significant contributor to the severity and frequency of weather-related disasters, human displacement and migration, and sustainable development. Over the spring and summer of 2024 we have been able to trace the growing impact of disasters on communities in the United States and globally. Now more than ever it is important to understand the intersectional nature of climate change, disaster and refugee response, and migration. Week of Compassion works with partners to provide comprehensive support for recovering communities' immediate needs, and for building a sustainable future.
update from Haiti3/18/2024  As Florida Regional Minister Sandy Messick offers pastoral care for our Haitian Disciples in this time of upheaval and distress in Haiti, Week of Compassion is working with partners, especially with CWS (Church World Service), to address critical care and humanitarian response there in the ways we are able.
aid in the Middle East3/7/2024 assisting Palestinian refugees in Jordan Week of Compassion remains alert to the ongoing needs in the midst of the Middle East crisis. In conversation with our colleagues at Global Ministries, especially Peter Makari, GM’s Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe, Week of Compassion continues to respond.
Most recently, Week of Compassion through Global Ministries is responding with the Middle East Council of Churches’ Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees in Jordan. Given the already significant economic crisis in the region, which has affected Jordan as well, and the desperate situation of Palestinian refugees amid the ongoing crisis and the defunding of the UN Relief and Works Agency, partners are stepping in to fund initiatives that would ordinarily find support from other sources. As other partners’ funds are being delayed or diverted to care for the extreme needs of refugees during this conflict, emergency funds like the Week of Compassion and Global Ministries response through DSPR are crucial, both as an expression of interfaith solidarity, and to address these critical needs. 2 Years in Ukraine2/26/2024 updates from partners on long-term response Prague, Old Town Square -Feb24 rally supporting Ukraine - photo credit Petr Zewlakk Vrabec Saturday February 24 marked two years of war in Ukraine. It also marked two full years of daily response to the needs of thousands of impacted families, along with refugees and displaced persons, both inside Ukraine and in the surrounding nations. Week of Compassion's implementing partners within the ACT Alliance network continue to serve amid the most challenging circumstances. We are grateful to share this glimpse into that ongoing work:
a Special Offering 2024 Mission Moment South Sudan is a new country and there have been major conflicts since it became its own nation in 2011. One of the side effects of the ongoing conflict is the impact on the health systems, particularly on women and girls, who are especially vulnerable given the limited health care in the country. There is little infrastructure to support women and their health, leaving NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to deliver 80% of services like prenatal and postnatal care, along with family planning counseling and HIV screening and treatment.
Providing such care is hard, and many women have to walk for miles to the health clinics. Truly amazing are the nurses and doctors and the care they provide – as important is the community space they create for women to support one another and empower one another to move forward. The impact is incredible. |
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