Due to the invasion of the Russian army, millions of people are fleeing Ukraine to save their lives and the lives of their families. In this crisis situation, many European countries are showing an incredible degree of willingness to help. In Germany, too, many people are supporting the refugees and the flight from the war zone.
Private individuals and civil society have taken on key roles in humanitarian aid: Relief supplies are packed, transport of materials and people is organized, refugees are cared for, private accommodations are arranged, apartments are equipped, information is collected, safe spaces are created, meetings and exchanges are made possible, and initial visits to authorities are accompanied.
The commitment of the volunteers and the concerns of the refugees come up against municipal authorities that cannot react adequately to the enormous need for accommodation, care and psycho-social support. This can easily give volunteers the impression that they are being blocked by government agencies rather than being recognized for their commitment. But also in the state authorities, the mediation between individual needs and legal requirements leads to contradictions that can hardly be resolved.
Overload and overstrain quickly become an overwhelming feeling among those helping and seeking help. Many people have opened their doors to refugees without knowing how long the private accommodation will last. The lives of the refugees have changed completely in just a few days. They have had to leave family members behind and abandon their social and professional environment. Traumas, triggered by experiences of violence and an escalating war, have to be addressed and coped with.
The Do-No-Harm approach provides a framework for planning and implementing assistance in a conflict-sensitive manner. Potentials and resources are linked together instead of being played off against each other or called into question, because all individuals, groups and institutions are still needed - in the long term in particular. This is only possible if the strengths and abilities of the individual actors are utilized, mutual trust is built, and resilient communication and cooperation are established.
In order to ensure a variety of perspectives, the project is led by a Ukrainian-German tandem and conducts
- multilingual moderations,
- conflict-sensitive counseling and
- transcultural education.
At
Friedenskreis Halle e.V., we can rely on many years of experience in working with refugees and engaging with municipal institutions, other non governmental organizations, and private initiatives in Halle and the wider region.
