Robert Schumacher | Writer
Over a million refugees have already fled the country. Most by train out of Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, which is currently at risk due to recent bombings. Many Ukrainians have waited almost three days in freezing weather to flee to Poland, and others about 20 hours to leave for Romania.
“I think leaving a place that I’ve known for so long without knowing whether it would be there when I returned is incredibly harrowing. It’s incredibly difficult to find a place where you feel at home when thrust into such an unknown situation,” senior Chase Geyer said.
What are countries providing for refugees?
In countries bordering Ukraine, refugees can stay in reception centers if they do not have friends or relatives to stay with. They are given food and medical care.
Hungary and Romania are offering cash allowances to support refugees trying to buy food and clothing. The Czech Republic will allow refugees to apply for a special type of visa in order to remain.
Poland and Slovakia have asked the EU (European Union) for help providing for refugees as they are the main recipient. Greece and Germany, both members of the EU are sending tents, blankets, and masks to Slovakia, while France is medical equipment and medicine in Poland.
The EU is preparing to grant Ukrainians who flee the war a right to stay and work throughout the 27 nations for up to three years. Refugees would also receive social welfare and access to housing, medical treatment, and schooling for children. This is extremely useful seeing as it is unsure if refugees will ever be able to return back to Ukraine.
The psychological effects of invasion:
Millions of families are being split apart due to the Russian invasion and women and children are often fleeing as refugees having to leave behind their husbands and fathers that are fighting in the war.
“This girl found me on snap, and she just ended up being from Ukraine. I didn’t really think anything of it until the invasion happened,” senior Jet Stadick said. “Her name’s Taisa Tara and it’s been crazy talking to her about what her experience has been like. She told me she was pissed at Russia but that she couldn’t leave as a refugee. She was originally planning to leave for Poland, but her Dad isn’t allowed to leave and she says she really just wants to stay with her family.”
Despite the EU’s effort to welcome refugees with open arms, the mental damage it can cause to a person can still be extreme. “Each of those separations is traumatic and influences the individual,” Dr. Manuel Carballo, a psychologist specializing in mental health said. “Within a space of hours, many Ukrainians have lost their physical belongings. But it’s not just a loss of physical memories, they’ve also lost the living memories of close family and relatives. What Ukrainians are really being forced to leave behind as they flee is an investment in the future.”
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