Facing the catastrophic situation, the ADRA network and the Adventist Church of Neuilly decided to join their efforts to provide a welcome for refugees in transit.
The local community was at the beginning of a 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 church of Neuilly put at ADRA’s disposal the former pastoral accommodation and provided free wifi available to stay connected. This house has been converted into a haven of peace, rest, healing, and prayers for those who wish. ADRA members mobilized to buy or collect materials to house and care for 10 people. The results (as of 3/23) are as follows, after 10 days of operation:
- A family living in Neuilly for a week, with their cat.
- A family of 6 who stayed 3 days and is now being hosted in Spain.
- A group of 3 women and 2 teenage girls (whose husbands and fathers stayed in Ukraine) is now welcomed in Germany.
- A group of 10 persons who stayed 3 days and now are 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", so 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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