Dorcas Iraq’s Post

70 lives—including 10 women and three infants—were tragically lost in a gang attack in Haiti today. Yet, amidst this crisis, discussions in America are turning toward deporting Haitian parolees. This is a critical moment for our nation, and it's a time to reaffirm our commitment to the values that define us as a place of refuge, safety, and new beginnings. Since its founding, America has opened its doors to those fleeing persecution & violence. When revolution tore through Europe in the 19th century, people found safety here. In the 20th century, Jewish refugees escaping Nazi persecution and Vietnamese families fleeing the aftermath of war looked to America as a sanctuary. The Cuban people, escaping an oppressive regime, found freedom in America. The same story repeats itself for so many: Afghanistan, Syria, and Haiti. This is what makes America unique, and it’s what Emma Lazarus captured in her poem on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Today, as we witness tragedy in Haiti and elsewhere, we should remember that America’s strength is not just in its power or prosperity but in its ability to provide hope and a fresh start to those most in need. We must keep this spirit alive because it is who we are as a nation.

In the lead-up to #WorldHumanitarianDay, our Faith and Development Adviser, Desmond Ming-Rong Lim, underscores the importance of collaboration with faith communities in humanitarian and development work. Inclusive dialogue and trust-building with faith actors are essential for fostering a shared understanding of humanitarian values and principles. By adopting a faith-sensitive approach, humanitarian responses can effectively promote peacebuilding and psychosocial well-being, mitigating the suffering caused by disasters, conflict, and violence. #ActForHumanity

Since October 7, 2023, over 40,000 Palestinians have tragically lost their lives, marking this as one of the deadliest conflicts in the region's history. The scale of loss and devastation is staggering, affecting countless families and communities. This conflict has not only claimed lives but also deepened the humanitarian crisis, leaving millions in need of urgent assistance. The world cannot turn a blind eye to this ongoing tragedy. It is crucial to raise awareness, advocate for peace, and support efforts to provide relief to those suffering. Every voice counts in the call for an end to the violence and the pursuit of lasting peace and justice. Let's stand together to ensure that those affected by this conflict are not forgotten. #EndTheViolence #HumanitarianCrisis #RaiseAwareness #GlobalSolidarity #FreePalestine #StandForHumanRights #HelpPalestine #StopTheConflict #PeaceUnitedGlobal

We witness the heart-wrenching events unfolding in Palestine, I find myself overwhelmed with emotion. Every news report, every social media post seems to bring more devastating images of innocent children, women, and elderly caught in the crossfire of conflict. The toll on human life is unbearable, and I can only imagine the exhaustion and despair felt by those living through this nightmare. In these dark times, we must hold onto our shared humanity. Each life lost is a tragedy that ripples through families and communities, leaving scars that may never fully heal. As I scroll through my feed, I'm reminded that behind every statistic is a person with hopes, dreams, and loved ones just like us. As professionals and global citizens, we have a moral obligation to speak up and act. We cannot turn a blind eye to suffering, regardless of where it occurs. Our voices, when united, have the power to demand change and push for peaceful resolutions. Let us remember that every child deserves a future, every family deserves safety, and every human being deserves dignity. In our interconnected world, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. I believe that by coming together with compassion, empathy, and a commitment to peace, we can work towards a future where all people, regardless of their background, can live without fear. What steps will you take today to make a difference? #PeaceForPalestine #HumanRights #GlobalCitizenship

Today is International Day of Peace. Conflict causes loss, displacement, and suffering. As a global community, we must come together to build a culture of peace and reconciliation for a safer future. At JRS/USA, we empower refugees and forcibly displaced people to heal, find peace, and rebuild their communities. This #InternationalDayOfPeace, we encourage you to reflect on how you can prioritize peace in your life and support programs that promote resilience in people affected by conflict. As the sign says "Peace Begins With You and I." #Peace #ConflictResolution #RefugeeSupport #GlobalCommunity #PeaceBuilding #JRSUSA

This is a page from my great-uncle Paul’s diary as a child. While my grandfather was in the trenches of WW2 - yes, there were also trenches - the rest of the family had obtained refugee passes to France. It was 1940, four years before D-Day. Those four years would see the loss of everything the family was: from normal work to printing false papers to support the exodus of Jews, resistance, and captured soldiers; losing the factory and its workers; hunger; occupation; my grandfather’s deportation as forced worker; my great-grandfather’s disappearance in a concentration camp after being betrayed, nearly at the end of the war. My grandparents’ wedding, when they thought they may not survive. Then rebuilding, with what was left, which took many years after the war. It’s hard for many today to appreciate the debt of gratitude and solidarity across Europe and America then. I’m also thankful to have grown up with these stories as stories of grief, resilience, community - but not hate. It was my grandparents’ gift, and it’s rare. They were able to look beyond their own loss and see a generation of German children also being sent to the frontline towards the end of the conflict. Because they still mean so much to me, and have shaped my values today, I also appreciate that the legacy of violence takes over 3 generations to erase. That’s one more reason it pains me every time I see children and people displaced or affected by war, as we see from Sudan to the CAR, Myanmar, Palestine, Ukraine, and too many more. It’s one more reason to remember the sacrifices of D-Day, both from those who were there, and from whole nations who supported that effort. War isn’t glorious or pretty. Violence is seldom a solution. I hope with all my heart that we’ll remember and practice that spirit of service and solidarity in every day life, in civic engagement, in caring for our institutions, environment and for each other across borders, without the need for another. #D-Day #rememberance #values #peace #society

I had to make a pitstop at Petra in the Middle East... At the height of the Syrian refugee crisis in Fall 2016, some of us came together in NorCal, gathered our collective talents across business, medical, and social impact, and armed with practical skills, light, hope, and justice, went and served Jordanians and Syrians in Northern Jordan on two separate occasions. We didn’t solve global conflict, however, peaceful families fleeing for their lives were 100% blessed as we deployed help and opportunity to resettle and relaunch their lives. It was one of my greatest honors. 🥹 As the world continues to rumble with conflict and uncertainty, it’s possible to anchor our hope in something far greater than what we see in the headlines. I’ve seen in the midst of great challenges always lie abundant opportunities to show up, show out, and make a difference. It’s always time to mobilize. It’s always time to rise.  And now is the time. Every day, we get to choose. We get to choose hope. We get to choose light. We get to choose love. We get to choose to bless instead of curse. We get to choose what unites us instead of what divides us. We get to choose every day who we’re becoming. It’s not by osmosis, it’s by intentionality. As I reflect on who I’m becoming, who I want my children to be, and how I’m choosing to show up every day to uplift our community, I am filled with hope. There are many good people in the world choosing to do good in this hour, and for you I’m grateful. 👏🏼 I don’t know about you, but we need this more than ever: public-servants and servant-leaders who choose what is true and noble and right and pure and excellent, always. For me, I’m choosing to see humans having inherent dignity, value, and worth. I’m also choosing to scale care, connection, and compassion for all. #Amen #Empathy #Hopely #IgniteHopely #ComingSoon #CrisisIntervention #CrisisReponse #SocialImpact

hopelessness? When hungry wolves for power destroyed our nation, our people became refugees in enemy nations. Thus, they abused and harassed our people in every form they could. Seeing this picture, you will despair of life. This is enough for you to see how Somalis are in the hands of selfish mercenaries. You don't need to look for proof of that. What kind of nation built is for more than 30 years, yet one person is not out of poverty and one institution is not strong? Is that nation-building, really? That's the disintegration of a nation. The West has interests they can't achieve through a strong state, so they created a weak government and puppet leaders and politicians whom they portray as nation builders. These politicians obey orders from the so-called international community, but in reality, they are the puppets of the West, fulfilling these orders with disruption. The problem lies with our puppet politicians. Our nation needs freedom

It is one of the good things about Depaul that it works in many countries.   And Depaul International has recently issued a report on homelessness in Ukraine, to which I have added a link below.   There are some commonalities, but obviously some additional local facets, including the length of time some people have slept rough, the current high levels of displacement and a cultural challenge around accepting individually cast psychological support. https://lnkd.in/ehypG7p3 #DepaulInternational #Ukraine #POTUS

What do we mean when we call a #church a #sanctuary? Does the term #sanctuary evoke a quiet space of personal spiritual reflection, or is it a physical community offering sanctuary from violence and hunger? Can it be both? As the international community urgently responds to yet another humanitarian crisis in Haiti, and as INGOs strive to demonstrate their relevance in their first-response efforts, it's crucial to recognize that Haitian CSOs and church leaders are already on the ground, providing immediate assistance. The photos above are from local #Wesleyan churches in southern #Haiti accommodating families fleeing Haiti's gang violence in Port-au-Prince—a very literal church sanctuary. " Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. " Saint James, the brother of Jesus. What does it mean to be relevant in a humanitarian crisis—pallets on a plane or a pastor in the parish? At World Hope International, the answer is usually both. But we know the frontline and first response are local—already present and relevant. Stand with World Hope in supporting the local church initiatives that are the backbone of the sanctuary movement, providing a haven for those affected by violence in Haiti.  https://lnkd.in/e-7yRaCG P.S. Does anyone remember the "Sanctuary Movement" within the North American church in the 1980s?