Meeting for Sufferings: Response to Ukraine
'Many have wanted to help and some have pointed out the injustice of a system that privileges Ukrainian refugees over others fleeing conflict.'
Towards the end of the afternoon, Friends heard about the Quaker response to the war in Ukraine, in relation to a minute sent by Quaker Peace & Social Witness Central Committee (QPSWCC).
The minute was sent in response to a minute from Meeting for Sufferings in March, after it received prepared ministry on war in Ukraine.
Oliver Robertson, secretary of QPSWCC, brought Friends up to date, describing how since last Sufferings they had set up a dedicated webpage to give practical guidance on how to respond. They also drafted a page for Friends in the region and ran four sessions online about the conflict which was attended by over 100 Friends (as well as a similar YM session). There was also person-to-person diplomacy trying to foster connections with people in Russia and the Russian diaspora, including template letters. The team also produced advice on Homes for Ukraine and how Friends could support the arrival of refugees, which QPSW, Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network and Quaker Housing Trust have also been looking at. ‘This is something that Friends have had mixed views on,’ he said. Many have wanted to help and some have pointed out the injustice of a system that privileges Ukrainian refugees over others fleeing conflict.
Peace education colleagues also devised a lesson plan on the theme of ‘Would I fight in the conflict?’, which had downloads ‘well into three figures’ at a time where there were few other resources. Ecumenical work was overseen by Quaker Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations, who agreed joint statements with other churches and shared what other churches had done in response to the situation.
The team had also been in contact with other Quaker service agencies across the globe who’ve ‘all been trying to grapple with some of the issues we have’. Friends in Eastern Europe have focused more on practical work, with Estonian Quakers, for example, working on trying to reduce tensions and enable fellowship between Russians and Ukrainians in the country.
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