I Have the Plans for You To Prosper
Europe’s Biggest Refugee Crisis in the 21st Century
The Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2014. Tensions escalated when Russia annexed Crimea, leading to a conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces in the Donbas region. Throughout 2021, Russia increased its military presence near the Ukrainian border, and on February 24, 2022, it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to the United Nations, at least 14.06 million people have been displaced since the war began. Over 7.82 million have fled to neighboring countries, while 6.24 million remain internally displaced. Ninety percent of these refugees are women and children. This is the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and the most severe refugee crisis of the 21st century. The Russia-Ukraine war also has the highest refugee displacement rate in the world.
Initially, refugees fled to neighboring western countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Later, around 3 million moved further west into other European nations. As of August 2022, the countries hosting the most Ukrainian refugees are Russia (2.4 million), Poland (1.4 million), Germany (1 million), and the Czech Republic (400,000).
Concerns Over Forced Deportations
Human rights organizations have reported that Ukrainian civilians are being involuntarily transferred to Russia. The United Nations Human Rights Office stated, “There is credible evidence that unaccompanied children have been forcibly relocated to Russian-occupied territories or Russia itself.” The U.S. Department of State estimates that at least 900,000 Ukrainian citizens have been deported to Russia.
Return of Refugees
As of June 2022, over 3 million instances of border crossings back into Ukraine have been recorded, though this does not necessarily indicate the number of returning refugees. The Ukrainian border guard reported that about 30,000 people were returning to Ukraine daily. Some areas, once occupied by Russian forces in the early stages of the war, are now considered relatively safe, prompting refugees to return. In May 2022, the mayor of Kyiv stated that “two-thirds of the city’s pre-war population has returned.”
The Ongoing Struggles of Refugees
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported in May 2022 that more than 7 million people remain refugees. The IOM estimates that more than half of internally displaced persons are women, many of whom are pregnant, caring for young children, disabled, or victims of violence. In response, the United Nations is working with other organizations to provide cash assistance, food, and essential supplies to support them.
》Scripture Prayer
Jeremiah 29:11-14(NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Matthew 5:44-45(NIV)
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Romans 8:28, 37(NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Let us pray that God will have mercy on and protect the many children and women who have suddenly become refugees due to the war in Ukraine. May the refugees, who have lost hope because of war and fear, hear the gospel and come to understand that God’s plan for them is to give them hope and peace.
2. Let us pray that the believers in Ukraine will love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, even in the midst of a war where many lives are being lost due to greed and conflict. Let us pray for the love of Jesus on the cross to bear abundant fruit in both Russia and Ukraine, and for the war to end and peace to prevail.
3. Let us pray that the churches in Europe, called by God, will see this time of crisis as an opportunity to spread the gospel and become a channel of His perfect love that conquers fear. May the refugees, through the Lord who loves them, find strength in faith and overcome all their struggles.
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