The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking for help to overcome the humanitarian crisis in the country.
It was officially statedby the message authors -Ukrainian religious leaders on Monday in the US capital,”Ukrinformreports.
"We are appealing to you on behalf of our people for help to overcome the humanitarian disaster that engulfs our country. The needs are enormous: from medical devices to items of everyday use, such as food, water and clothing,”goes the letter, presented in Washington by Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine Filaret, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church SviatoslavShevchuk and Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine YakovDovBleich.
At the time when the media constantly informs about the war of Russia against Ukraine, the Ukrainian government reform and financial challenges, the issue of human suffering from the fighting is mentioned rarely,states the appeal. Besides the fact that Ukraine definitely needs more military, financial and political support, “we have to focus on the humanitarian aspect.”
The document reminds that, according to official UN data, over 5 million people in Ukraine, including 1.7 million children have a desperate need for humanitarian support. It is emphasized that over 65% of these needs remain unsatisfied.
Religious leaders of Ukraine thanked the US for their assistance and asked to expand certain programs.
“We are asking you to increase aid and to use the full potential of the State Partnership Program of the US National Guard, as well as the program Partnership for Peace as instruments to mitigate the consequences of humanitarian disaster,”goes the letter.
It is also noted that the implementation of these programs will enable a faster and more efficientdelivery ofmedical aid to Ukraine and other humanitarian shipments.
According to the press service of the UOC-KP, on November 9, 2015, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate, Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine Filaret, Head of the UGCC Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) and Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine YakovDovBleichmetin the White House with representatives of the Presidential Administration of the USA.
Participants of the meeting on behalf of the President of the United States were: - Dr. Charles Kupchan, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs, National Security Council, Director for Ukraine Eric Ciaramella, Director for global interaction Laura Schultz; Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Melissa Rogers; and Policy Advisor for Europe and Eurasia in the Secretary of State’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs Dr. Jennifer Wistrand on behalf of the US State Department.
Religious leaders delivered the said letter of the members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations - UOC-KP, UGCC, RCC in Ukraine, Protestant Churches, theRAMU and the Union of Jewish Religious Organizations of Ukraineto President Barack Obama.