It’s easy to make a world of difference for a Ukrainian refugee
It’s been nearly 13 months since Russia launched its vicious attack on its neighbor Ukraine. Few thought Putin would really do it.
Putin had planned on only 3-4 days of battle before the Ukrainian government fled, and Ukrainian people welcomed their liberating Russian brothers with bouquets of flowers and open arms. Russian soldiers weren’t given enough food or clothing for more than a week or two of fighting, and they were shocked to not find flower-wielding crowds welcoming them.
How the people of each country reacted to the unwarranted declaration of “special military operations” against Ukraine speaks volumes about the people themselves. Many educated Russians fled the country, being able to see what was coming. Those who stayed (some say 80-90 percent or more) have largely bought into Putin’s propaganda, and are in support of the war. The head of the Orthodox Church of Russia has blessed this Holy War against Ukraine, and all but promised sainthood for anyone fighting for Russia in it. The Russian strategy is to destroy hospitals, schools, energy infrastructure, and civilian residential areas. They use torture, rape, beatings, execution on civilians everywhere they go, with no regard for age or gender; they kill for the sake of killing, as they were ordered. A few widows and mothers of slain Russian soldiers have been “rewarded” with fur coats, a package of salami, or a five-pound bag of frozen dumplings or fish. All have been promised “coffin money” of about $18,000 U.S. equivalent, but few have seen a single ruble of it. It’s sick and twisted.
Meanwhile, Ukrainians have been incredibly helpful to each other. Looting is virtually unheard of (dealt with early on) even though opportunities abound. Millions have left their homes, and many of them have temporarily left the country as refugees of war – usually carrying a child or pet (or both) and a -single bag of belongings. Those who have stayed forge through to make every day as normal as possible. Education, careers, business plans, family plans, everything has been turned upside down for the millions of individuals and families who have stayed, and they face the terror of missile and drone strikes day and night.
1.8 million Ukrainians fled to Poland alone, as well as other European countries that opened their arms to the largest flood of refugees in nearly a century.
Today, nearly 13 months later, there is a path for those who have fled their homes seeking refuge to find it here in the United States.
Dr. Karina Burger, a veterinarian who lives in Cokato, has been able to find sponsors and housing for a few Ukrainian refugees so far, but there is still a great need for help.
She needs temporary homes (from 1-6 months or more) for individuals and small families. This can be a spare room in your house, a guest cottage, or an apartment or home that may be available.
She also needs sponsors. (Sponsors may also provide housing, but don’t need to.) Unlike sponsoring an immigrant (which I’ve done a few times), sponsoring a refugee is an agreement to be a safety net and to help them out financially if needed. There is some paperwork to this process, of course, and there will be background checks of both sponsors and refugees, a bit later in the process, to assure everyone’s safety.
Once the refugees (who are currently in Ukraine or elsewhere in Europe) are connected with a sponsor and a place to live here, they receive a letter of invitation from the U.S. State Department, and they have 90 days to get here (on their own) before that letter expires.
There are other needs as well: jobs, clothing for all ages, rides, cars, pet food for their beloved pet family members, and more once they are here. Sometimes children and adults can use help learning English. And friendships will be a valuable help to all of the refugees resettling here.
It could be years before Ukraine can be rebuilt for all of its citizens to return. The Russian war must stop first, of course, before rebuilding can begin.
I will continue to use the Tri-County News and our Facebook page to relay information on what is needed, and more specifics of what sponsorship entails (as I learn more about that myself).
A fundraiser/celebration may be scheduled this summer, for the Ukrainian families and their hosts and sponsors here, and for those who are working hard to get here. Watch here for details!
Meanwhile, if you can help now, or would like to learn more about the process, please email me at editor@tricountynews.com.