Angry

I didn’t take a photo today as we spent the entire afternoon in the shelter, so this is just a bit of a leaflet with a hotline to support displaced people from the conflict zones.

At midday we met a local organisation at the train station where evacuation buses from the frontlines had just arrived and people were being given lunch and support for the next stage of their journey. They sat dazed with tiny plastic bags on their laps - I was shocked at how little they had brought with them. I’ve seen many arrivals from conflict zones but few people who came with so little - no clothes, no photo albums, no precious inherited items or childhood toys. Many were elderly and face a difficult next few weeks. Most were trying to join family or friends in other parts of Ukraine or neighbouring countries. The free buses and trains of the first few months have been discontinued and most people arrive with no money or just a few pounds. If they wait for official state assistance it will be 2-4 weeks so the volunteers pay their bus or train fare or the family transfers cash to a volunteer’s bank account and they buy the ticket. This is something we can definitely help with. As the main employer - the port - is closed, and prices rise, people are struggling. Even volunteers are switching from giving out aid to asking for it.

I was also shocked to learn that a centre for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers had been holding people in detention on the frontlines where there are daily artillery strikes. One person was released today and helped to get to safety, but for people fleeing war in Syria and Afghanistan to find themselves locked up on another frontline is horrific. I feel so angry about this. Where is the humanity?