Finding Hope in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has united the world – and destroyed the worlds of so many. I am reminded of Katya, an 8-year-old girl who survived an intense fire at her small village in Northeast Ukraine. Raised by a single parent, she was asked if she felt afraid during the shelling. She triumphantly answered, “Of course not! My Dad was with me!”
Her faith in her Father, as our faith in our Almighty Father, reminds me of World Hope’s mission to be the Father’s love for the vulnerable and those in need in this world. What better reminder than from the heart of an 8-year-old amid war?
Fear Not, for I am with you…for I am your God; I will strengthen you…
John visiting a hospital in Moldova
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, World Hope has delivered $12 million worth of medical supplies to aid those fleeing the war zone. We are partnering with churches, governments and other aid agencies to help refugees fleeing to Moldova and Poland, and training teams on the ground to watch for evidence of human trafficking, especially of children.
John Lyon, Former CEO of World Hope International, recently returned from Odesa, Ukraine, where he witnessed firsthand the needs of ordinary, civilian Ukrainians. He wrote,
“It was moving to be with them. Ordinary citizens and volunteer paramedics are on the front line between freedom and tyranny. They lack equipment. They lack resources. They lack money. What they do not lack is a force of will to maintain their freedom and protect their homes. I’ve seen first-hand that World Hope’s assistance providing health care, emergency evacuations, filtration systems for clean water, and now emergency medical kits are making a direct impact and saving lives. In cities, towns, and even the most remote villages we will be working side-by-side with Ukrainians to bring them these lifesaving gifts.”
To facilitate our logistics, we have opened a temporary office in Chisinau, Moldova to help build opportunity and promote dignity and hope amid this emergency. We see firsthand that life-giving clean water is now scarce. Water facilities and treatment facilities have been destroyed and towns like Mari, with 460,000 before the war, have no clean water. First aid kits and training are also critical. People we talked to are eager and ready to learn, fight, and survive to protect their homes and maintain a free Ukraine. We seek to deliver the humanitarian assistance to help them do just that.
We are working to ensure that basic needs – water, food, and protection services – are being met and that those who have fled and those who have stayed behind have access to help and hope.
Our response to this invasion will continue to grow, and the need may be even greater when this unnecessary, cruel war ends. We are working to ensure that basic needs – water, food, and protection services – are being met and that those who have fled and those who have stayed behind have access to help and hope.
Thank you for partnering with us to bring hope in a time of crisis.
You can make a gift to support our efforts in the Ukraine crisis or learn more about our basic needs rapid response work.