Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) meets Ukrainian refugee women in Moldova. “We cry when the children sleep,” says a mother of “Krone”.
The Republic of Moldova carries the highest refugee burden in Europe relative to its population. 100,000 refugees entered the country, with a population of 2.6 million. An increase of four percent. Most are women and children.
Like Ina with her two small children. “We’re moving away from Mikolayev,” she says. The city is hotly contested and is considered the bottleneck after Odessa. When the impact first struck, she grabbed her children and a handful of belongings and drove off. Five kilometers before the border we continued on foot. Her eldest stayed. Your husband too. To fight
In the beginning it was difficult”
They were warmly welcomed at the border and are now housed in the Concordia Home for Social Projects in Chisinau, an Austrian institution. The children play football and go to school. The children slowly get over the shock. “It was tough in the beginning. Sirens blared, air raids – they didn’t know what was happening. Every time the lights go out, they get scared.”
Only the elderly realize the consequences. It has been going better for a few days, the eyes of the children are smiling again. The mothers keep in touch with their home country through social media. To their husbands, to their sons. They are strong for their children. Also Julia: “We cry when the children sleep.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
