Dear Supporter,
We are all seeing the tragedy of war unfolding in Ukraine on our devices and screens.
Students of Indian origin stranded in Ukraine reached out to our teams for assistance. UNITED SIKHS emergency relief teams are working round the clock to respond to the emerging needs on the grounds.
One of the first critical needs being brought to our attention is students and residents of Indian origin being displaced by the war. Students have shared harrowing details of being stranded. Some have walked for 55 kilometers with minimal phone or internet connection to find a safe refuge and a place to stay. With continuing war conditions and countless Ukraine residents displaced, it is virtually impossible to find safe lodging and basic life sustaining services.
Image received from students stranded and attempting to cross Ukrainian border.
We are also getting first hand reports that students of Indian origin are still waiting to cross the border over to safer locations. Two female students in contact with our teams have been allowed to leave for Poland. Other students remain stranded at the border. According to these students approximately 700 students of Indian origin are in Ukraine.
One student told UNITED SIKHS, “I along with other students have walked for 3 days to get to the border. It is really frigid cold and I cannot feel my feet anymore. We haven’t had food and water for two days. I just have 15% battery life remaining on my mobile phone, and we fear that we won’t be able to contact our families once my phone dies. I request the border agents to prioritize only based on needs assessment and not citizenship or anything else. I pray that we are allowed to cross the border so we can eventually get back home.”
We are coordinating for needs assessments with refugee camps and are monitoring the situation closely for the required aid for students and residents in Ukraine escaping war conditions on the ground. We have opened communication channels with governments of neighboring nations including Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. We have taken steps to secure safe passage for one group of students coming from Ukraine to get refugee status in Poland.
A virtual desk has been set up to immediately respond to the needs of students and residents from Punjab and South Asia displaced by this tragic war.
Please share this information far and wide with everyone to make sure anyone in urgent need is aware of our humanitarian support.
We remain committed to serving humanity as it faces emerging crises around the globe. We humbly pray that war comes to an end soon and peace can prevail in Ukraine.
We deeply appreciate your continued support for our humanitarian, advocacy and education missions at times at the shortest of notices.
Gurvinder Singh
International Humanitarian Aid Director
Recognize the Human Race as One
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