Assessing the Ukraine Crisis Response

Jewish Federations Saving Lives in Ukraine – Profiling the Work of 10 Grantees


The first post in this series described Jewish Federations’ investments before the Ukraine crisis and fundraising and allocations since the crisis began. The second post detailed the collective impact of Jewish Federations’ emergency allocations.  The third post focused on the lifesaving work of Jewish Federations’ core historic partners: The Jewish Agency for Israel, JDC, and World ORT.


The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused the greatest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II.  Jewish Federations have responded to the scale of need in an unprecedented way through collective allocations to twenty organizations: to Jewish Federations’ core historic partners – The Jewish Agency for Israel, JDC, and World ORT – and 25 other organizations providing crucial services to those impacted by the war. 


The Jewish Agency and JDC responded immediately to the crisis utilizing the infrastructure – experience, expertise, and relationships on the ground in Ukraine and surrounding countries –  enabled by Jewish Federations’ core funding year in and year out through annual campaigns.


The response of the 10 organizations profiled in this post generally was different. 

Some of the organizations were based or had a strong presence in Ukraine or surrounding countries before the war – but they did not have experience in responding to crises.  Organizations focused on building Jewish communities now dedicated themselves to saving lives.


Others did not previously operate in Ukraine and surrounding countries but brought special expertise developed in Israel or other countries.


The organizations’ care for those impacted by the crisis ranged from broad-based community efforts, care for educational communities, emergency medical and mental health support, advocacy and assistance to immigrants, and welcoming of immigrants and refugees to Israel.


The common thread is that each organization rose to the moment to do everything possible to help the victims.  And Jewish Federations’ collective funding provided critical resources to the organizations to facilitate their work.

  1. Broad-Based Community Response
    1. Federation of Jewish Communities CIS-FSU – Chabad (https://fjc-fsu.org/)

Food and Shelter

Distributed food to 42,513 people in 131 Ukrainian communities

Housed 11,240 refugees and fed 21,240. Assisted 2,895 refugees in Israel.

Medication

Distributed medicine to 4,630 elderly people

 

Evacuations

Within Ukraine and out of Ukraine: 35,483 people

 

Data as of July 1, 2022


Funds Raised: As of March 31, Chabad had raised $7.7 million.  This includes $815,000 from Jewish Federations, $2,385,000 from other organizations, and $4,529,000 from individuals.  Additionally, Keren Hashluchim (Emissary Foundation) granted $300,000 for subsidies to Ukrainian Shluchim families.


About the Organization: Chabad’s roots in Ukraine date to the founder of Chabad, Rabbi Scheur Zalman, who was buried in Ukraine in 1812.  During Soviet times, Chabad went underground, forming a secret network of schools, synagogues, and community centers to sustain Jewish life.  With the weakening and then dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Lubavitcher Rebbe sent teams of Rabbis and Rebbetzins (Shluchim – emissaries) to Ukraine to provide Jewish communal leadership.


The Federation of Jewish Communities (FJC) was established in November 1998 to revive the Jewish communities of the Former Soviet Union. FJC provides humanitarian aid and Jewish education, organizes cultural events and religious services, and helps develop Jewish communities and rebuild Jewish institutions.


Pre-invasion Presence in Ukraine: Chabad operates Jewish institutions in 32 cities, including synagogues, schools, orphanages, and community centers, and reach out through these centers to over 100 smaller communities in Ukraine. Chabad communities across Ukraine are led by 384 Shluchim – Rabbis and Rebbetzins (Rabbi’s spouse).


Scope of Activity: With the outbreak of war, Chabad has focused on evacuation, providing shelter, food, and necessities to the local Jewish communities, and helping the elderly and most vulnerable. Chabad has worked in collaboration with The Jewish Agency for Israel and JDC, with Chabad transporting refugees to the border, and The Jewish Agency and JDC then providing the refugees with assistance.  Chabad also cooperates with JDC within Ukraine.


The Federation of Jewish Communities is coordinating Chabad’s efforts in Ukraine. It authorizes the disbursement of funds, relying on requests from the Rabbis and Rebbetzins in the field.


There are 50 Chabad regional coordinators on the ground in Ukraine.  Chabad Shluchim remain in certain cities, while others have returned for a shorter period.  Shluchim currently outside the country remain active in arranging food, medicine, and other assistance for people who have remained in their respective Ukrainian city.  Twenty-five Chabad Houses – in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia – are providing food and shelter to refugees.


Chabad has focused on the following:

  1. Food, Shelter, and Medicine within Ukraine: Prior to the conflict, Chabad stockpiled food.  It is now purchasing and distributing food and emergency supplies.  Chabad has distributed food to 42,513 people in 131 Ukrainian communities.  This includes hot meals served in soup kitchens in 10 countries to approximately 2,000 people, gift cards sent electronically to 4,500 households (approximately 7,000 individuals) to buy food at a supermarket chain, and food packages delivered by volunteers to approximately 3,000 homebound people.  Chabad acquired and distributed medication to 4,630 elderly individuals.
  2. Security: Chabad hired security personnel to protect 55 Jewish communal facilities. Security personnel also protects evacuation convoys and buses.
  3. Evacuations: Chabad has evacuated 35,483 people on 644 buses, as well as through train tickets, within Ukraine and to other countries, including Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Israel.    
  4. Food and Shelter for Refugees: Chabad has housed 11,240 refugees in hotels, hostels, and other facilities and provided food for 21,240 refugees in transit and other facilities.  Chabad is also providing financial subsidies and other assistance to 2,895 refugees in Israel.

 

  1. JCC Krakow (https://www.friendsofjcckrakow.org/ukraine)

Humanitarian Aid Distributed at JCC Krakow

Approximately 67,000 receiving over 96 tons

Evacuations to Poland

11,000

Evacuations from Poland to Other Countries

210

Food

90,000

Shelter

12,000 hotel room nights provided

Medical Care/Medicine

1,200

Financial Assistance

100

Data as of July 5, 2022


Funds Raised: JCC Krakow has raised $4,881,000 of which $728,000 is from Jewish Federations, including $137,500 from UJA-Federation of New York, over $2,953,000 is from individuals, and over $1,200,000 from foundations.


Background on Organization: The Jewish Community Centre in Krakow began operation in 2008 with 80 members. It has since grown to have 800 local members with Jewish roots. It runs a wide range of educational, cultural, and religious programming, as well as special programs for Holocaust survivors, young families, and other groups. In addition, JCC Krakow provides a range of travel services to visitors to the Krakow region.

Krakow is the closest organized Jewish community to the Poland-Ukraine border, about 200 miles from Lviv, Ukraine.


Pre-invasion Presence in Ukraine: JCC Krakow was not previously active in Ukraine.  It did have among its members several Jewish-Ukrainian students, who attended universities in Krakow. 


Scope of Activities:  JCC Krakow has 51 staff people, including 25 new full-time staff members hired to help with crisis relief.  Eighteen of these new staff members are Ukrainian refugees.  Seventy volunteers are assisting in JCC Krakow’s efforts.  The organization is providing the following services:

  • Distribution of Supplies: JCC Krakow functions continuously as a collection and distribution point for food, medical supplies, toys, and clothing.  Approximately 67,000 Ukrainian refugees – now over 600 per day – have received over 96 tons of supplies from the JCC.  Additionally, JCC Krakow sends trucks with collected supplies to other refugee centers in Krakow, as well as various border points, including hospitals inside Ukraine.
  • Evacuations: JCC Krakow funds a local partner, an Evangelical Christian organization, that brings supplies to the border and into Lviv for distribution across Ukraine.  The partner has evacuated 10,000 people from Ukraine and provided refugees waiting on the Ukrainian side of the border with food, medical care, and sanitary supplies. Additionally, the JCC is funding transport of over 1,000 refugees from Mariupol and Kramatorsk to Poland. The JCC also has purchased plane and train tickets for 210 Ukrainians travelling to other countries from Poland.
  • Food, Shelter, and Financial Support:  The JCC serves approximately 1000 meals daily. Overall, 90,000 refugees have received JCC meals. JCC Krakow has provided 12,000 hotel room nights for Jewish and non-Jewish Ukrainian refugees. On average, JCC houses 360 refugees a day in hotels and apartments and provides them with supplies and cash assistance.  The JCC supports a LGBTQ+ friendly hostel, which also serves Ukrainian refugees from other minority groups. In partnership with other local NGOs, the JCC equips, operates, and provides food and laundry services for a central refugee hub for refugees arriving in Krakow with housing for 80 people. Working with the Polish Scouts, JCC Krakow purchased 130 beds and provided supplies to refugees at the Krakow Central Train Station. The JCC arranged for the transport of 16 semi-trailer trucks full of food into Ukraine from Lille, France. Additionally, JCC Krakow has provided financial assistance to 100 refugees.
  • Childcare: The JCC has opened a mother and child safe space with day care for 25 children and language training, psychological counseling, and job training for mothers.
  • Medical Care: JCC Krakow has partnered with a local university and Israeli NGO to train 68 local psychologists to deal with refugee trauma.  They are also funding 12 full time psychologists who are providing 1,400 hours of therapy a month in 5 locations in Krakow.  JCC Krakow has distributed medicine or medical care to 1,200 refugees.  The JCC is providing medical supplies to a hospital in Ukraine.

 

  1. Project Kesher (www.projectkesher.org)

Emergency Cash Grants to Women in Ukraine

305 for a total of $108,000

Food

33,395

Evacuations within Ukraine

8,767

Data as of May 12, 2022

Funds Raised: Project Kesher has raised $805,000, $120,000 from Jewish Federations, $200,000 from foundations, and the remainder from individuals.


Background on Organization: Project Kesher was founded in 1989 to engage and empower a network of Jewish women leaders in Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine and to support the return of Jewish life to the post-Soviet states. Beginning in 2009, Project Kesher leaders established independent non-profit organizations to be run by and for women in Belarus, Israel, and Ukraine, and Project Kesher continued its work in Russia. Project Kesher activists are trained in a wide range of leadership and organizing skills to respond to the changing needs of civil society, community, and local Jewish life.  As a result of the war, Project Kesher Russia officially separated from the Project Kesher global network on March 15, 2022, and all outreach between Russia and Ukraine has ceased.


Pre-invasion Presence in Ukraine: Through its work over the past 30 years, Project Kesher has a grassroots network of over 300 trained leaders from Ukraine from over 40 cities.  Prior to the war Project Kesher Ukraine was one of the only organizations to work in nearly all Ukrainian regions. These trained women leaders have developed a wide range of community-based initiatives and voluntary organizations responding to the diverse needs of local Jewish communities and the broader communities in which they live. Many are displaced due to the war and continue to use their skills through humanitarian relief, refugee support, and building community resilience wherever they are located.


Scope of Activity:
The Project Kesher Ukraine team is assisting women in making the decision when to evacuate and where, making over 300 emergency cash grants totaling $108,000 to women without resources, and renting buses and minivans to assist with evacuation of over 8,767 people in key cities.  Project Kesher is fighting trafficking and providing compassionate communications on reproductive and mental health for Ukrainian women, through programs via personal networks, social networks, radio, podcast, media, and sms technology.  In Israel, Project Kesher is caring for Ukrainian families in hospitals around the country, running support groups, and helping Ukrainian women immigrants and families to access critical resources.
 

  1. Educational Institutions
    1. Hillel International (https://www.hillel.org/)

Hillel students in Ukraine Prewar

4,000

Hillel staff in Ukraine Prewar

44

Evacuations

100

People Served Food and Medicine/Medical Assistance – Ukraine

Over 5,000

Data as of July 1, 2022


Funds Raised: As of May 10, Hillel has raised $1,082,000: $201,500 from Jewish Federations, $129,500 from foundations, and $751,000 from individual donors.


About the Organization: For nearly a century, Hillel’s network of dedicated student leaders, professionals and volunteers have encouraged generations of young adults to celebrate Jewish learning and living, pursue social justice (tikkun olam and tzedek) and connect to their peers and the global Jewish people. By participating in life-changing trips and campus initiatives, students learn to make a meaningful impact on the future of the Jewish people and the world while they grow intellectually, socially, and spiritually. 


Pre-invasion Presence in Ukraine: Hillel International has been active in Ukraine for more than 25 years. It serves more than 4,000 students and young professionals in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa.  Across Eastern and Central Europe, Hillel serves 15,000 students at 24 Hillels, including in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Germany, Russia and Poland. The chapters operate as community hubs for Jewish students and young adults, host weekly Shabbat services, holiday gatherings, educational programs, volunteer opportunities and social events, and operate Birthright Israel trips for thousands of young Jews


Scope of Activity: On March 2, the Hillel in Kharkiv was destroyed during a Russian bombardment. Hillel has remained open in all cities except Kharkiv, and students and staff have been volunteering, often in partnership with the JDC and other community organizations, to serve the local communities, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Beginning in April there has been a return to some core programming such as Shabbat and Pesach services, in order to provide a sense of stability and normalcy for those who remain in Ukraine.   Hillel has served over 3,000 individuals in Ukraine and has activated over 550 volunteers in Germany, Hungary, Moldova, and Poland.


Hillel is supporting Hillel students and professionals impacted by the crisis and providing assistance to refugees:

  1. Emergency Cash Assistance: Hillel professionals from Ukraine and other parts of the Former Soviet Union were provided with emergency cash assistance to ensure they and their families had funds for anything they needed - shelter, gas, food and medicine. In addition,  Hillel provided salary supplements to those who have temporarily relocated to areas with higher costs of living.

     
  2. Hillels Helping Refugees: Hillels in Moldova, Hungary, Poland, Germany, and Lviv, Ukraine all opened their doors to host refugees. While the model looks different in each country, these Hillels have found ways to support their fellow colleagues and Hillel students, as well as hundreds of other refugees, both Jewish and non-Jewish.
     

Poland: Hillel Poland opened a day center for refugees where they are serving hot meals, having sessions with psychologists (working with two who are refugees themselves), and running a Polish language course (now twice a day). Hillel Poland hired Ukrainian-speaking coordinators for the day center: one is a Hillel participant and the other is a refugee herself.  There have been 612 visits to the day center and 629 meals served.

Hillel Poland is providing assistance to 18 families (60 refugees) in settling in Poland and meeting their physical needs and wellbeing.  Additionally, Hillel Poland has provided financial assistance to over 50 people on regular basis, as well as funds to help people in Ukraine. 

Germany: Hillel Deutschland transformed the Hillel into a student hostel with eight beds and hosted 11 individuals over the course of 43 days. The Hillel, assisted by 21 volunteers, directly helped with evacuations of over 100 people from Ukraine, using the Hillel staff’s deep connections in Ukraine. Hillel Deutschland also provided ongoing student activities both for students from Ukraine and opportunities for local students to volunteer and get involved.  Hillel sent four emergency supply shipments to Ukraine and hosted a Shabbaton for 12 students from Hillel Kharkiv (plus 2 from Hillel Kyiv). Hillel activated 129 student volunteers who hosted refugees, organized donations, drove supplies around the city, picked people up from the train station, translated for refugees, and attended events catering to the needs of refugees.

 

Hillel Central Asia Southeastern Europe (CASE): The majority of Hillel Ukraine students remain in the country. Nearly 90% are volunteering, many serving in the army and territorial defense units, and others working in hospitals and as ambulance drivers. Hillel International and Hillel CASE continue to support Hillels in Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Azerbaijan as they help Ukrainian refugees who have been displaced by the fighting. Over 3,000 student volunteers served with JDC and other partners.

Volunteers are active through Hillel Lviv and Hillel Odessa. They are helping those in need and providing elderly people with food. In Dnipro, the Hillel volunteers prepared everything necessary to remain in emergency conditions for an extended period of time. Refugees from Chernigov were accommodated on the premises of Hillel Kyiv at the request of the Joint Distribution Committee.  Hillel’s Pesach Project had 1,565 participants.

Israel: Hillel is providing financial support to over 35 Russian students staying in Israel on Onward and Masa programs, as well as to Hillel Russia staff who have moved to Israel.
 

  1. Emergency Response Organizations

 

  1. Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) (http://israeltraumacoalition.org/)

 

Hotline

5,000 calls from Ukraine

240,000 calls from Israel

Network of Trained Psychologists (in Ukraine)

Over 2,500 psychologists and professionals

Approximately 80,000  people served

Missions to neighboring countries

700 participants trained

 

Data as of July 1, 2022

Funds Raised: As of April 3, ITC had raised $570,000 from Jewish Federations.


Background on Organization: Founded in 2001, ITC is a cornerstone of Israel's national trauma care and preparedness program. It partners with over 40 organizations to create a continuum of care in the trauma field, response and preparedness. ITC provides a comprehensive view of the trauma field, while working towards strengthening community resilience and ensuring emergency preparedness. ITC harnesses the collective knowledge, expertise and experience of Israel’s leading NGO's and government organizations. ITC was instrumental in establishing 12 resilience centers  providing pro-active preparedness services to municipalities as well as response and recovery following emergencies. Through investment in training, ITC focuses on building self-coping skills that will minimize the development of post trauma symptoms, replace the need for dependence on medication and maximize individual and community resilience.


ITC has sent experts around the globe to implement psycho-social community rehabilitation models, to train trainers from local teams to become facilitators (master trainers), empowering local leadership, strengthening capacity building and coping resources amongst several population groups. Previous ITC global work has been in Sri Lanka, Haiti, India, France, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, Chechnya, USA, as well as work with Syrian refugees in Jordan and Germany.


Pre-Invasion Presence in Ukraine: ITC started working in Ukraine in 2014, following the  Russian invasion of Ukraine.  ITC established two resilience  centers with the support of the World Bank and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health.  ITC trained hundreds of Ukrainian psychologists. 

Scope of Work:

ITC is providing the following nonsectarian support in Ukraine and surrounding countries, as well as in Israel:

  1. Training and Support: Teams from Israel are  working with local Jewish communities who are under tremendous stress and pressure and require immediate support and training in the areas of short-term care, trauma-focused immediate intervention, provision of emotional first aid and self-care skills.


ITC is also providing training and support for JDC and Jewish Agency teams who are on the ground in Ukraine and neighboring countries.


Through its highly trained trainers, ITC activated its network of more than 51 groups totaling over 2,500 Ukrainian psychologists and clinicians.  ITC professionals provide on-line training and support for professionals with a particular focus on providing a response to the needs of parents and children, seniors, victims of previous wars, loss and bereavement support, and trauma-focused therapy.  ITC estimates that psychologists in Ukraine who have participated in ITC training have served about 80,000  people.


ITC delegations have traveled to Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic to provide psychosocial training for volunteers, community leaders, those in supportive professions (such as nursing and education), caregivers, and refugees themselves.


In Israel, ITC is delivering specialized psychosocial training for teams  working with the absorption of immigrants or refugees.  ITC is also providing direct trauma treatment through individual and group therapy sessions, with a particular focus on parental guidance.

 

  1. Hotline: An ITC 24/7 hotline is providing specialized online support trained in emotional support, identifying distress and providing self-care tools.  To date, there have been 5,000 calls to the hotline from Ukraine and 240,000 from Israel.  For callers from Israel, the hotline provides support to new olim and returning Israelis, as well as Israelis anxious about friends and relatives in Ukraine or Russia.

     
    1. Hadassah Medical Organization (https://www.hadassah.org/how-we-help/our-hospitals)

Refugees treated

In Poland: 35,000

Data as of July 5, 2022

 

Funds Raised: Hadassah raised $1,466,400, including $328,500 from Jewish Federations, $1,119,400 from individuals, and $18,500 from foundations. 

 

Background on Organization: With its more than 300,000 members and supporters, Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America (HWZOA), is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. The primary focus of its activity in Israel is in the field of health care. Through its subsidiary organization, the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), it runs two major hospitals in Jerusalem that provide services to more than one million people annually regardless of race, religion, or nationality. HMO’s trauma training and expertise has been in the vanguard for over a century.  Its trauma unit at Ein Kerem hospital was founded in 1992, and the training received there has had a global impact. In 1983, Hadassah created Hadassah International (HI), which is a global network of supporters and partners that form cooperative relationships in countries open to such cooperation.

 

Pre-Invasion Presence in Ukraine: Hadassah had no presence on the ground in Ukraine or surrounding countries.

 

Scope of Work: In response to the war on Ukraine, HMO established a Medical Humanitarian Mission in Poland and treated 35,000 refugees, while also providing training to regional medical personnel in crisis and trauma medicine.


Between early March and June 20, HMO sent 15 successive delegations of more than 100 HMO doctors and nurses providing basic trauma care and medical triage support for Ukrainians fleeing to refugee centers in Przemyśl and surrounding areas on the Polish border with Ukraine.


Hadassah first established a partnership with the Medical University of Lublin, Poland, a regional trauma center and the major medical facility closest to the Ukraine-Polish border (~70 miles) to assess its healthcare infrastructure and train the medical staff in the latest trauma protocols. HMO also sent medical equipment to Poland in early March to augment the level of service provided to the refugees. Following the needs assessment, a senior Hadassah trauma team conducted a training program for Lublin hospital’s emergency, surgery, trauma, and nursing teams. The training focused on preparedness for mass-casualty situations, the arrival of patients with traumatic injuries, and managing patient care in the event of radioactive, chemical, and biological attacks. 

 

In June, Hadassah’s Medical Humanitarian Mission transitioned from an Emergency Relief project staffed exclusively by medical teams of HMO doctors and nurses, to a sustainable medical aid model based on hybrid volunteer medical teams from many countries working together under the Hadassah umbrella of HMO/HWZOA/HI. This transition phase concluded on June 20, and the relief effort is now fully staffed by volunteers from around the world.

3.     United Hatzalah of Israel (https://israelrescue.org/)

Hotline (calls received)

From Ukraine: 5,600

From outside Ukraine: 14,700

Refugees treated

In Ukraine: approximately 6,300

In Moldova: 32,000

People served meals (including Pesach food distribution)

In Ukraine: 6,000

In Moldova: 55,000

Humanitarian Aid

130 tonnes

 

Data as of May 12, 2022

 

Funds Raised: United Hatzalah had raised $14.8million:  $1,010,000 from Jewish Federations, 8,980,000 from individuals, 4,320,000from foundations, and 490,000 from other sources.


About the Organization: United Hatzalah of Israel provides free emergency medical first response throughout Israel through over 6,200 volunteers. 


Pre-invasion Presence in Ukraine: Since 2016, United Hatzalah has been working with volunteers in Uman, Odessa, and Kyiv in Ukraine.


Scope of Activity: For the first five weeks of the war, United Hatzalah’s medical assistance and humanitarian aid mission provided emergency medical treatment and humanitarian relief to Ukrainian refugees entering Moldova. When the flow of refugees slowed, United Hatzalah's refocused its efforts to helping those inside Ukraine with medical treatment and evacuation of vulnerable people and distributing medical supplies to hospitals throughout Ukraine. The United Hatzalah hotline has received 5,600 calls from Ukraine, made 3,200 outgoing calls to Ukraine, received 14,700 calls from outside Ukraine, and made 7,200 calls to outside Ukraine. 


A team of 125 volunteer medics and doctors, 7 staff members, and 5 non-medical volunteers were deployed in Moldova, with medical equipment, medicine, communications equipment, and food.  In Moldova, United Hatzalah has provided medical care to 32,000 people and food to 50,000 people


Additionally, 10 medics and eight additional volunteers are serving on six United Hatzalah ambulances in Ukraine. They have provided food to 6,000 people and medicine or medical assistance to approximately 20,000 people in 35 hospitals in Ukraine.


United Hatzalah has brought more than 3,000 refugees to Israel and 130 tonnes of aid to Ukraine.

 

  1. Advocacy and Immigration Support Organizations
     
    1. HIAS (https://www.hias.org/)

People Receiving Cash Assistance in Ukraine

4,000

Refugees Provided Food and Supplies at the Ukrainian Border (Poland)

31,200

Psychosocial Support for Children (Poland)

3,700

Data as of July 1, 2022


About the Organization: HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives. HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) was founded in 1881 to support Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe.  Today, HIAS’s clients and staff come from diverse faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds. HIAS works across five continents, ensuring that displaced people today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive. In 2021, HIAS assisted over 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers globally in four signature areas: legal protection, gender-based violence prevention and response, mental health and psychosocial assistance and economic inclusion.


Pre-invasion Presence in Ukraine: HIAS has worked in Ukraine since 2001, assisting Jews emigrating from Ukraine to the United States. Today, HIAS’s presence in country is in partnership with Right to Protection (R2P), an independent Ukrainian NGO. Before the war, R2P had offices in 10 locations across Ukraine.


Scope of Activity: HIAS’s activity in Ukraine and surrounding countries focuses on the following:

  1. Targeted Emergency Support to R2P in Ukraine: HIAS is providing emergency technical and financial support to R2P to ensure that its staff can remain safe and still serve the most vulnerable people inside of Ukraine, especially women, girls, the elderly and their families. This includes support for emergency operations and mental health and provision of cash assistance.
  2. Mental Health: HIAS will provide training, technical assistance and guidance to R2P to provide emergency psychosocial support in a safe and dignified manner, including through the provision of Psychological First Aid and short-term psychological interventions. To best address the critical needs and acute distress of children, youth, women and families, HIAS will work in partnership with the MHPSS Collaborative - For Children & Families in Adversity to better build local capacity of organizations throughout the affected region through the development of context specific guidance and tools.
  3. Financial Support to Jewish Partners and Communities: HIAS is providing emergency financial support to Jewish communities in Poland, Moldova and Slovakia as the communities provide shelter, food and non-food items to refugees in need. HIAS also partnered with CADENA to provide emergency services on the border with Poland and relocation support. Assistance is provided in four locations: (1) Medyka Border crossing where food and basic psychosocial support is provided to refugees waiting for up to 48 hours to cross, 2) Korczowa Refugee center, where child friendly activities and specialized psychosocial care is provided to children and caregivers, (3) transportation and delivery of humanitarian items including food and medicines to warehouses in Ukraine, and (4) referral of families at the Przemyls refugee center to host families and communities in Spain.
  4. Risk Reduction and Response to Gender-Based Violence: HIAS is partnering with VOICE Amplified to address urgently the needs of women, girls and LGBTQI+ fleeing Ukraine. HIAS and VOICE will and position key local women’s rights organizations to take a lead role in delivering gender-based violence response services. HIAS and VOICE will identify and support front-line service providers to deliver services to 1) women and girls (including LGBTQI+) refugees in Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Poland at border crossings and transit sites and 2) women and girl (including LGBTQI+) internally displaced persons in the hardest hit regions of eastern and southern Ukraine.
  5. Protection of Ukrainians in the U.S: HIAS has been in the forefront of advocacy within the United States for the Biden Administration to welcome Ukrainian refugees with ties to the United States or with particular vulnerabilities who are unable to find adequate protection in Europe. These efforts ultimately contributed to President Biden’s March 24 announcement that the U.S. would receive 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in the United States. HIAS continues to press to ensure that refugees who are brought here are eligible for assistance and legal protection. HIAS is preparing its national resettlement network for an influx of asylum seekers and launched a Ukrainian language hotline. HIAS’s legal and pro bono teams are preparing for a significant increase in requests for representation to Ukrainians who are already in the United States and eligible for Temporary Protected Status or may cross the United States-Mexico border to seek permanent protection as asylum  seekers.

 

  1. Aliyah and the Welcoming of Refugees to Israel
    1. Nefesh B’Nefesh (www.nbn.org.il/)

Ukrainian Lone Soldiers in Israel

417

Lone Soldiers’ Family Members Assisted

125

Ukrainian Olim Processed

1,500

Data as of July 1, 2022


Funds Raised: Nefesh B’Nefesh has raised $1,040,00 million, $640,000 from Jewish Federations and $400,000 from individuals and foundations.


About the Organization: Nefesh B’Nefesh promotes and facilitates Aliyah from North America as the outsourced entity for the Jewish Agency and Israeli government Additionally, the organization is charged by the Israeli Defense Forces to provide services to thousands of Lone Soldiers from over 70 countries.


Pre-invasion Presence in Ukraine:  Nefesh B’Nefesh cares for 417 Ukrainian Lone Soldiers in active service in Israel. 


Scope of Activity: Nefesh B’Nefesh has assisted 125 Ukrainian family members of Lone Soldiers who arrived in Israel, including by providing them with financial assistance, care packages, basic supplies, and vouchers.  Additionally, Nefesh B’Nefesh distributed two trucks-worth of supplies to Ukrainian refugees at a hotel in Jerusalem.


Starting mid-March, Nefesh B’Nefesh created a one-stop-shop facility on its campus to assist the government in processing Aliyah for Ukrainian refugees.  Instead of a months-long process, the new olim meet with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Interior, and Nativ to confirm their Jewish status, gain their Aliyah status, and become new citizens of Israel, all within a few hours. Several Nefesh B’Nefesh staff members are focused on this Aliyah processing effort.


As of April 30, approximately 1,500 Ukrainian olim were processed at the Nefesh B’Nefesh campus through this facility.

  1. Emergency Volunteer Project (www.evp.org.il)

Funds Raised: Emergency Volunteer Project (EVP) has raised $40,000 from Jewish Federations.


Background on Organization: Emergency Volunteer Project was established in Israel ten years ago to deploy aid and volunteers to Israel in times of routine and disaster.  EVP has trained thousands of volunteers from across the United States and Israel.  In 2020, EVP formed a mass-feeding communal emergency voluntary responder force, equipped with mobile kitchens and feeding equipment, to support the population in Israel in times of crisis.


Pre-invasion Presence in Ukraine: EVP has not worked in Ukraine.


Scope of Activity

In coordination with the relevant Israeli government ministries, EVP provides hot meals through their mobile kitchens to Ukrainian refugees. The focus of the work is on refugees who are not eligible for citizenship and do not have roots in Israel.