Letter: SJOG stands with Ukraine

Ukrainian refugees in Romania. Image WCC

Many of us are very disturbed by the war in Ukraine and I have had so many conversations with people about their fears of a very uncertain future.

When I was growing up in Poland, I heard so many stories from my grandmother about the time of the "liberation" of Poland in 1945 by the Red Army when she was a young girl at the end of WWII.

The stories were about her fears, rapes on young girls and her escaping by hiding 'in a basement full of rats, or running when the soldiers' attention was caught by food. My grandmother had to choose between her fear of the retreating Germans and the possibilities of being killed if she did not follow their instructions and her fear of the Red Army and what they might do with her.

This morning, I have been on FaceTime with my grandmother in Poland, to ask her permission to share some of her stories because when I watch the news I hear similar stories once again!! In 2022!

Grandma has confirmed that she feels she was extremely lucky as she was never raped but she did not want me to give any details to identify her, as "they could get to her"… She is 92 now and I am feeling rage that because not only she fears again but that so many innocent people in Ukraine are going through the same in the 21st century.

So, here at St John of God Hospitaller Services, we have been developing a response to support the victims of the war!

Luckily, we are part of the great network of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God. The Order in Poland is not only involved in helping those who flee to seek safety in Poland but also we have three Brothers in Ukraine that are directly supporting the local community (followed my grandma's advice, I am not going to share the details of their service in Ukraine, so as not to put them at higher risk than they are already). However, I am in a regular contact with the Polish Provincial Brother Franciszek who provided a list of items needed.

As he said: "the need is for yesterday!"

We are launching our first part of the response. Please see the link below.

http://sjog4ukraine.uk/

Please get involved by donating items, money or food! And share the link within your networks via emails, social media etc.

Thank you

Best

Pawel Zabielski
Service Manager
Olallo House