“I’ve witnessed many tough issues since this battle started. I noticed tens of hundreds of refugees and round 90 per cent of them have been ladies and kids. Their tales are very related, of being woken up by the sounds of bombs and grenades, grabbing some belongings like their passports, possibly somewhat cash, or a luxurious animal for the kids.
Considered one of them, somewhat woman referred to as Paulina, had somewhat fox. She hugged the toy as if it was probably the most valuable factor on this planet.
On the peak, round 140,000 folks have been crossing into Poland day-after-day. The determine has dropped, however there are nonetheless so many individuals looking for safety in Poland.
We’re current on the borders with Ukraine, the place we’re monitoring the scenario, serving to the authorities and the NGOs working there. We speak with border guards. we’re speaking with volunteers with NGOs, with the federal government. And at the start, we take heed to the refugees.
Fairly often they needed to look ahead to days on the border, particularly in the course of the first ten days, a lot of them sitting in unheated automobiles in freezing temperatures, round minus 5 levels Celsius.
Many others arrived by bus or prepare, after which they needed to stroll a number of kilometres to the border. I noticed households arrive on the border, after which the daddy would hug his spouse, hug his youngsters, after which return to Kyiv, or wherever he got here from. These have been heart-breaking scenes.
© UNHCR/Chris Melzer
Refugees from Ukraine enter Poland on the Medyka border crossing.
‘I miss my daddy’
After I spoke to the refugees, the commonest query I heard from the moms was “when can we go residence”. And the kids would say “I miss my daddy a lot”. That was very tough to listen to.
As soon as the refugees have crossed the border, they go to one of many reception centres on the crossing factors, the place they will discover some meals, a mattress, and often an web connection in order that they contact their family members. The centres are often in colleges or sports activities halls, however not less than it is heat.
From there, they attempt to discover one thing to remain for a few weeks. Most keep in Poland, however others head to different international locations, resembling Germany.
It’s essential for different international locations to share the burden, moderately than leaving Poland and different international locations close to Ukraine, resembling Romania, Moldova and Slovakia, to manage: it is a European and worldwide disaster. The excellent news is that we’re seeing different European Union international locations keen to assist.
How one can assist Ukrainian refugees
I’m impressed by the solidarity of volunteers and native organizations which can be offering meals, transport and lodging.
Nevertheless, I’d ask that people contact an NGO, and even higher the authorities of their nation in the event that they need to do one thing, as a result of their assist will probably be way more coordinated and environment friendly.
For instance, we work with the Crimson Cross in Poland and Ukraine, in addition to different NGOs who’re doing an excellent job. We couldn’t do our work with out them.
The quickest and most effective approach to assist is by donating cash. Folks may also open their doorways to refugees. Doing so could be one of the vital essential experiences in your lives.
Greater than two million Ukrainian refugees in about two weeks. is unprecedented. It’s an enormous problem however the solidarity seen in so many international locations has been huge, so I’m assured that we are going to cope.
Reminder of darkish occasions in Europe
After I noticed these folks I used to be reminded of my mom. She was 9 years outdated in 1945, when she needed to flee the Second World Conflict. She is now 86, and he or she’s been sitting in entrance of the TV for sixteen, eighteen hours per day for the final two weeks, completely shocked, seeing her childhood all of a sudden in full HD and color once more right here.
She’s been crying the entire day, and he or she asks me, when will it cease, how can it cease. And I don’t know. I’ve no reply to that.”
© UNHCR/Chris Melzer
Donations of clothes, footwear, toys and different fundamental gadgets supplied by Polish residents for refugees arriving from Ukraine on the Medyka border crossing.
