Image creator: ALINA SMUTKO | Credit: REUTERS

"Disaster, Upon Disaster: Flood Deepens Misery in Ukraine War Zone,"  this New York Times headline summarizes the unspeakable suffering unleashed yet again on the people of Ukraine when the  Kakhovka dam exploded on Tueday, "swelling a more-than-50-mile stretch of the Dnipro River until it swallowed docks, farms, gas stations, cars, factories and houses."

International Relief organziations that normally respond to such disasters have been slow to respond - perhaps because of the complications of entering and bringing supplies into a war zone. However, there are smaller Ukrainian NGO's and and other humanitarian organizations who are conducting rescue operations and delivering life saving supplies of water, food and medicines.  Please consider making a donation. 

The following is a Canadian organization who will issue a tax deductible receipt. 

The Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) has already directed the immediate supply of food boxes to the region sufficient to feed some 12,000 people for at least two weeks. Further, the UHRC will be working with the Health Cluster Ukraine and their long standing partners in Ukraine to determine immediate and longer-term needs of the flood-devastated regions and to develop an actionable aid plan. You can donate here

The following have been recommended by Dr. Timothy Snyder, historian and faculty at Yale University. He writes, "Please help.  A catastrophic manmade flood as part of a war of atrocity is no everyday calamity.  Ukrainians are on the scene doing what they can with remarkable calm.  We should so what we can to support them. . . and help good people feel like they are not alone."

World Central Kitchen is an international NGO that has done extraordinary work in Ukraine during this war.  They are providing excellent nutritious food in Kherson region right now.  You can support them here. 

Razom is an American NGO that cooperates with local Ukrainian NGOs.  If you donate to Razom, they will make sure your support is appropriately directed.  It is a US 501(c)3.  You can donate here.

Let this be our prayer - 

For the troubles and the suff'rings of the world - especially the people of Ukraine

God, we call upon your mercy:

the whole creation's laboring in pain!

Lend an ear to the rising cry for help . . 

Come! Hasten your salvation, healing love!

We pray for peace, the blessed peace that comes from making justice,

to cover and embrace us. Have mercy, Lord!

~ from All Creation Sings, Hymn 1051