In Transcarpathia, eastern Ukraine, refugees “feel safe”

Refugees from eastern Ukraine living in Perekhrestia, Transcarpacia, they are making a camouflage net for the army. They want to contribute their two cents to the joint effort while they wait to return home. Her life is hard, especially with the frequent power cuts.

“Last time we were here, I saw people cooking outside because there was no electricity, just like now. The generator is not enough for the kitchen stuff, so we thought we would help them so they can cook in bigger pots so we can feed the whole world”, Edit Zsábej, from the Catholic Caritas, told Euronews.

The rooms are shared by several families. Marina arrived from Kharkov in April. Her eight-year-old son had a hard time accepting that he had lost his house and his toys. Marina believes that children like her son will never forgive Russia:

“The children could tell by the sound if it was ours or the Russians who were shooting. If it was a rocket, another type of projectile or an approaching plane.”

Svetlana lives in another room with her two children. One of them just received her Christmas gift from her, an e-book reader that will help him with her studies. She doesn’t think they’ll be coming home anytime soon:

“The good thing is that horrible voices are not heard here and you are not bombarded. Children can walk quietly down the street, they are safe,” the refugee told Euronews.

Mental health professionals help refugees to process the traumas suffered and to accept their new life situation. From Perekhrestia, our special envoy Ádám Magyar details the situation:

The building used to be a school for children with special needs and has been empty for a few years. Refugees from eastern Ukraine can find refuge in places like this. It is not yet known how long they will stay, but we met one who said that he wanted to return to Kharkov in the spring.

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