Quakers seek funding for Ukrainian refugees
‘EMES is working with Friends in the region to try to find methods for Friends outside the region to contribute financially to the relief work they are doing.'
European Quakers are investigating ways to set up funding for those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Michael Eccles, executive secretary of Friends World Committee for Consultation – Europe & Middle East Section (FWCC – EMES), told the Friend that the group is working to establish routes to fund Quakers in Poland, Estonia and Georgia to support Ukrainian refugees and those still in Ukraine. He said: ‘EMES is working with Friends in the region to try to find methods for Friends outside the region to contribute financially to the relief work they are doing. We’re not able to collect funds ourselves so we’ve asked the regional Quaker organisations if they are able to. So far, I’m in touch with two Quaker organisations.’
Michael Eccles said that there are two international members of Quakers in Ukraine and a number of seekers. ‘At least two of the Quaker seekers in Ukraine have fled: one to western Ukraine, the other to Poland. Others are still in Kyiv and the surrounding area as far as I know.’
One Kyiv Quaker is being looked after by Polish Quakers. Warsaw Friend Kasia Kaczmarkiewicz, who is assisting as an interpreter, said: ‘Many Poles are helping with their work, time and money. I myself am amazed that we can act so spontaneously and communally.’
Another Quaker in Estonia is trying to find accommodation for refugees, while a Friend in Georgia is collecting donations to send to Ukraine. ‘Hundreds and hundreds of men are going to the Ukrainian embassy in Georgia and signing up to join the Ukrainian army,’ said Michael Eccles, adding that ‘some Russian Quakers have been involved in anti-war protests and at least one was detained by the police, although is now released.’
One of them – Boris Fedyukin – spoke at a meeting this month organised by Cymdeithas y Cymod, the Welsh branch of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. The Russian Quaker, who is chairman of the Libertarian Party, called on ‘foreign decision makers’ not to take a collectivist approach to sanctions. ‘Russian people as a whole are not responsible for this atrocity and do not condone it. This is being perpetrated by individuals. And we ask that blame and punishment be meted out individually as well.’
The Quaker also described the public mood in Russia, which can be read on his bilingual statement: https://tinyurl.com/Fedyukin. ‘Anti-war sentiments are running high, online petition signatures to stop this are collected in hundreds of thousands and previously apolitical celebrities express outrage and disgust. Despite best propaganda efforts the war fails to achieve any significant popular support.’
Michael Eccles urged Friends not to ‘underestimate the power of prayer’. There are weekly Meetings for Worship run by FWCC EMES, while Friends House Moscow holds daily worship at 5pm.
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