The chair of the new Anglican Communion UN Reference Group has called on United Nations member states to take urgent action to support people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
Most Rev Dr Maimbo Mndolwa, who is also the Archbishop of Tanzania, said : "As the world watches the terrible situation unfolding in Ukraine, I welcome the action taken at both the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council last week. Both bodies have spoken unequivocally of the need to end hostilities now with an urgent ceasefire, support the immediate needs of those affected by the conflict, and work together to supporting the resolution of the conflict.
"I am particularly concerned that urgent action must be taken to support the more than one million people who have been displaced from their homes, particularly children, the elderly and those most vulnerable. I urge all UN Member States to do what they can to support the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in their vital work caring for those forced to flee.
"As Christians, we find comfort in the words of Jesus in John's Gospel when he says: 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.' May each of us do what we can to live out this call to be people of peace and to share the Peace of Christ with our neighbours."
The Anglican Communion Permanent Representative to the UN, Jack Palmer-White added:
"The Anglican Communion is present in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine; as well as many of the countries which border it. The Church of England's Diocese in Europe has joined forces with the Anglican Mission agency USPG to launch an emergency appeal to support Christian charities and churches carrying out humanitarian work both in Ukraine and responding to the arrival of refugees in neighbouring countries.
"The Diocese in Europe and USPG have partners on the ground providing food, medicine, shelter, care for children and people internally displaced in Ukraine. With refugees they are supplying care at the border and beyond, including attention to those from Africa and Asia as well as Ukrainians who are fleeing the war."
The UN High Commission for Refugees said more than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the war started eleven days ago.