Headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
SALT LAKE CITY — Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints say humanitarian efforts are underway in Eastern Europe amid attacks in Ukraine.
In a news release Thursday, church leadership explained that relief has been in the works since the early hours of armed conflicts in Ukraine. The Church began contacting friends and collaborating organizations in the region to assess needs and purchase food and other necessities.
A statement from The Church read, “Through decades of experience in providing assistance during natural disasters, refugee crises and other humanitarian conditions, we have developed a tested and proven model for identifying needs and providing assistance. This model includes empowering local leaders to use the Church’s financial resources to purchase goods and services in the local economy to provide what is truly needed.”
Church officials say relief supplies — including sleeping bags, cots and tents — are being delivered to local government agencies, the Red Cross and other NGOs who are attending to Ukrainian refugees arriving in bordering countries.
“Additional aid is being organized,” the church statement says.
Leadership encourages church members and friends to fast and pray for those so deeply impacted and make donations to the Church’s Humanitarian Aid Fund if they are looking for additional ways to contribute.
The statement comes a month after the church moved all their missionaries out of Ukraine. At the time when missionaries were being evacuated out of the country, the church reported it was out of an “abundance of caution.”
Following Russia’s invasion, the Church closed the temple located in Kyiv “until further notice.” On the website for the temple, it says the temple is closed and does not give an estimated date for reopening.
There are about 11,242 members of the Church in Ukraine, with 48 congregations around the country. There are also two missions within Ukraine. The temple located in Kyiv is the sole temple in the country.
will@cvradio.com