Help Ukraine refugees

Refugees aren't the migrants who cross the border illegally. Nor are they those people who are already in the queue waiting their turn to come to Europe.

In the last century humanity lived through two world wars, one cold war and countless smaller conflicts. In all these wars, the most numerous victims have been the civilians, just like in our times. The difference, however, is that in those earlier wars, civilians constituted over 90 percent of the victims. Today, they represent less than half.

This is a dramatic development. And it is a major change for the better. Yet there are still millions of people around the globe who continue to leave everything behind because of war, persecution and poverty. And for them a new life starts in another country and often in another continent — as a refugee.

Let's help Ukraine refugees

If you are wealthy, you can visit refugee camps on the borders of countries like Syria, Eritrea or Somalia. You can spend time with the few lucky ones who managed to get to Europe and still have some strength left. Most of those who do not make it to Europe die on their way, hundreds of kilometres away from their homes. Their bodies are buried in unmarked graves.

The Body Shop’s founder Anita Roddick once said: “What gets measured gets managed”. So let’s start measuring the numbers of people who lost their lives trying to reach safety. In 2015 alone, over 5,000 men, women and children died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea in a desperate attempt to reach safety in Europe. Sadly, the number is even higher for 2016.

One could say that’s their choice, but it is no choice at all. Their desperation takes a toll on them. Many lose their lives after being held in detention centres by European governments or national authorities and brutal smugglers who work for such governments. People who fled conflict or persecution in their home countries only to face further violations upon arrival in Europe.

Nowadays, we have various opportunities to support refugees: help Ukraine refugees through donations to organizations like UNHCR, UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders; through volunteering or just by helping newcomers integrate into the culture of their new home countries.

One of the biggest problems refugees face once they have arrived in a host country is that they are simply not ready. They don't speak the language and they don't have any money to their names. So, if you are in the position to help people who have just arrived in your country, here are some things you can do:

Provide them with a bed and food for at least a week until they get up on their feet. If you are unable to provide food yourself, you should contact a refugee shelter and see if they can help.

Inform them about how the local systems work so that they can find employment and support themselves. While they are getting up on their feet, you can give them a chance to practice their language skills.

You can quickly become friends with newly arrived refugees by helping them learn the language. This way, they will get to know someone who is already integrated into the new society and will be more likely to integrate themselves as well.

After you have helped them out for a couple of weeks, you should point them in the direction of non-profits that can help them with the integration process and make it easier for them to fit into your culture.

If you want to help refugees without giving out money directly, you can also donate some of your time by volunteering at refugee shelters or even teach them how to integrate by showing them how to use public transportation and how to apply for a job.

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