European Refugee Crisis: 7 Things You Can Do to Help

As the refugee and migrant crisis grows in Europe, Catholic Relief Services and our partners like Caritas are there on the ground, providing assistance to families in need. As the difficult images fill the news, many people and parishes have asked what they can do to help. Here are seven tangible actions you can take to make a difference in the lives of people who have left their homes behind due to violent and difficult situations.

1. Learn More

The more you learn about this crisis, the more you’ll understand its underlying causes and can spread the word. Continued warfare in Syria, and violence in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, has contributed to the surge of refugees from those countries, while deteriorating economic conditions in places like Sub-Saharan Africa has led people to Europe in search of a better life.

Here are some good resources for you.

• CRS’ support of Syrian refugees
• The Washington Post features 6 Syrians making the journey to Europe
• Refugee or Migrant? (From the United Nations High Commission on Refugees)

2. Donate

One of the best ways to help is through donating to accredited nonprofit organizations that are responding to the crisis. More than 90 percent of money donated to CRS goes directly to people in need. Donate now.

3. Fundraise

CRS partner Caritas distributes hygiene kits to refugees passing through Belgrade, Serbia. Photo by Kari Horvath for CRS

You can provide direct assistance by setting up a page to raise money to support our emergency efforts. Your support will ensure that we can provide immediate assistance, including food, water, access to sanitation, legal services and medical care. Set up your own fundraising page.

4. Advocate

CRS is calling on the United States to continue and expand humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees, especially to countries in the Middle East, that have for years been sheltering the largest number of Syrians and Iraqis, as well as to countries burdened by this new migration. Most importantly, the United States should lead concerted diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in Syria. Read more about how our nation's leaders can respond to the crisis, and write a letter urging them to take up the cause.

5. Use Social Media

Follow and retweet @CatholicRelief,@CRSNews, @CBrennanCRS,@KimPoz and @ngamer19 on Twitter for the latest updates on the#RefugeeCrisis that’s reached Europe. Also, share this image on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters.

6. Pray

Pray for protection for refugees—particularly those fleeing Northern Africa for Europe—as well as for personal transformation as we face the needs of refugees everywhere, by using this Prayer for Refugees.

7. Support Refugees in the United States

In northern Greece, refugees make their way to Macedonian border. Photo courtesy of Matthieu Alexandre/Caritas Internationalis

Although CRS works exclusively overseas, there are many ways to help refugees in the United States through organizations such as Migration and Refugee Services, your local Catholic Charities or by volunteering to help refugees in your own area through local refugee resettlement centers.

 Copyright 2015 Kim Pozniak, Catholic Relief Services

Images copyright Catholic Relief Services, used with permission