May 09th, 2022

Report from Prague, Czechoslovakia

The first phase of the Ukrainian refugee crisis went well, so far. We are delighted that over 3 million mothers with children found refuge in Poland (7.8 % of the population of Poland).  To give you an idea, it's as if the US was flooded with 26 million mothers with children in just 2 months! About 700 thousand mothers with children found refuge in the Czech Republic and Slovakia (4.6 % of the population of Czechia and Slovakia), 850 thousand in Romania, etc. Over 10 million out of 40 million Ukrainians (25 %) have been displaced and 5.5 million (13 %) have left Ukraine. They were welcomed with open arms.

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A father says goodby to his son and wife at a train station in Ukraine. The ring on the right hand is common and the mother has hers on her right hand too.  We are wearing the wedding rings on our right hands that we wore when we lived in Ukraine for most of the 1190's.

The government, individuals, churches, and the immigration authorities quickly organized lodging, health insurance, placing children in schools, and helped especially those qualified to find employment as assistants and aides in hospitals, nursing homes, and factories. The solidarity with refugees is unprecedented. All 6 small churches we work with care for about 60 Ukrainian mothers and children.

Phase two, integration of refugees, is on a good track as well. It is interesting how quickly we are brushing up on the basics of Russian, Polish, and Slovak languages. We hardly need any help with translation. Slavic linguistic similarity is a great help.

Phase three pertains to the future. For now, many mothers and children are safe. Their husbands, sons, and fathers (all men from 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave, except fathers of 3+ children) are putting their lives on the line to defend the independence of Ukraine. Most refugees have families back home, many have nowhere to return to. When and if this war will end remains a question.