Dear all,
As you know, this space is normally reserved to update our friends on IP’s activities. While there is much to report, that account will need to wait to address the war in Ukraine.
International Programs condemns the Russian aggression against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. This immoral and unjustified war has cost the lives of thousands of innocent people, with civilians summarily targeted in what amounts to war crimes as defined by the United Nations. International Programs joins the Iowa Senate and the Iowa House in decrying Russia’s brutal attacks on its neighbor and in calling for an immediate end to the war.
Millions of refugees are now fleeing Ukraine to neighboring countries whose resources are already scarce. A joint statement by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, and the United Nations Population Fund indicates that Ukraine’s health system is on the verge of collapse, with already catastrophic consequences certain to get worse if immediate aid is not forthcoming.
The resistance mounted by the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ukrainian people is nothing short of heroic. Their defense of democracy is exemplary and we extend our support to their cause. At home, International Programs is making every effort to provide care and guidance to our students and scholars from Ukraine. I have met personally with many members of our Ukrainian campus community and am working with various partners on campus to lend material and psychological assistance, but more can and must be done. While it is unimaginable for us in Iowa to think that our homes, families, and friends could disappear at a moment’s notice, this is the reality that Ukrainians at home and abroad face on a daily basis. Should you wish to help, please consider the following websites:
International Rescue Committee
UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees)
With thanks for your time and all best wishes,
|
Russ