Opinion of Terre des Hommes Germany on the Russian attack on Ukraine
Osnabrück, 24.02.2022 - We appeal to the community of states to work with all his might for a diplomatic solution to the existing conflict and to organize their actions at the fundamental goals of the United Nations, to protect the world peace and to use peaceful means to accommodate international disputes. The Russian narrative of a supposed affiliation of Ukraine in a large -scale empire can never be the reason for an attack on a neighboring state. No state has the right to occupy territories of other countries. The current Russian attacks on Ukraine mean a break in international law and must be stopped immediately! The interests of the Ukrainian population must be taken into account in all negotiations.
As in all wars, violent clashes will be at the expense of the civilian population. Children and adolescents are always particularly affected, they experience bombing, destruction, suffering and death and are often severely traumatized. Places such as schools and other facilities where minors are spared any fighting. Tens of thousands of children and adolescents have also been affected by military disputes in Donbass for years. Solutions are used that ensure that they can grow up in peace and without permanent fear of a warlike conflict.
The EU countries have to prepare for a quick and unbureaucratic admission of fleeing people from Ukraine and create accommodation options that guarantee people's rights and dignity. The Ukrainian neighboring countries must not be left alone here. We are probing whether and to what extent it is possible to accept and look after refugees via project partners in the region.
"As an international children's aid work, we are stunned by the open war against Ukraine that broke out tonight," explains Beat Wehrle, spokesman for the board of Hommes. »We are faced with global crises such as the consequences of climate change, corona pandemic and the fight against the growing gap between poor and rich. We will only be able to overcome these challenges as a global community that acts together and overcomes narrow -minded racism, ethnic resentment and nationalist fantasies of power. «