ADRA France and the Church of Neuilly Welcome Ukrainian Refugees in Transit

Facing the catastrophic situation in Ukraine, the ADRA network and the Neuilly Adventist Church decided to join their efforts to provide a welcome for refugees in transit. 

The local community was at the front of the church bringing together Ukrainians, Moldavians, some Russians, and Romanians. The links thus created made everyone sensitive to the suffering of the families who remained in Ukraine under the bombs. 

Due to the involvement of the pastors, a network was quickly formed, bringing together all these people. ADRA France served as a link with ADRA offices in Ukraine, Romania, Poland, and Spain. 

The Neuilly Church provided ADRA with the former pastor’s accommodation and free wifi to stay connected. This house has been converted into a haven of peace, rest, healing, and prayers for those who wish. ADRA members mobilised to buy or collect materials to house and care for ten people. The results (as of March 23) are as follows, after ten days of operation:

A family living in Neuilly for a week, with their cat. 

A family of six who stayed three days and is now being hosted in Spain. 

A group of three women and two teenage girls (whose husbands and fathers stayed in Ukraine) is now welcomed in Germany. 

• A group of ten people who stayed three days and are now welcomed in Germany.

"We understand better what the phrase ‘stranger and traveler on earth’ means when all material life is reduced to a travel bag with fathers under the bombs", said Emil Lazar, pastor of the Neuilly Adventist Church.

"Our experience has shown us that in order to succeed in such a project, we need professionals, motivated and competent volunteers, determined leaders, and a reception structure allowing us to receive people in transit with dignity and clear operating rules", added Patrick Lagarde, ADRA France vice-president. "Belonging to a structured network is a necessity." 

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