August 22, 2024
News
The war in Ukraine has forced more than six million people to flee their homes and seek refuge in other countries. Natalia is one of them. She fled to Moldova with her twin daughters, where the family is trying to live a decent life. It is hard, especially for the two girls, and they dream of returning home. Caritas Czech Republic has supported them to make their life in Moldova easier.
A scary journey from Ukraine to Moldova
38-year-old Natalia lives in Moldova, but it is not her home. She and her two twin daughters are from Ukraine, but the war forced them to flee their home country. Now they live in Etulia, a small town in the south of Moldova, close to the border to Romania. The family lives with Stěpanida, a relative of Natalia's husband.
When the war started, Natalia and her now 6-year-old daughters stayed in the basement of their house for two weeks. “It was a very scary time,” tells us Natalia. They heard military planes flying over the city and saw buildings being destroyed in the same street where they lived. That was when Natalia decided to take her daughters and leave Ukraine by car in search of safety. “It took us more than 24 hours,” Natalia says about their escape. She still remembers the broken and burning cars they saw during their drive. Finally, they arrived in Moldova in March 2022.
Making a life far away from home
When the family finally arrived, the locals from Etulia were surprised. The area is very remote and the help for refugees limited. Apart from Natalia and her daughters, there is only one other refugee family in the town. When Natalia heard this, she did not expect any humanitarian aid to be provided to her and her family, so she quickly started looking for a job in the small town. She found a job at a small local grocery shop, where she has been working since then.
Natalia spends a lot of time in the grocery shop. “It is better for my emotional state if I work most of the time, so I do not have the time to think about the situation back home in Ukraine,” tells us Natalia. When she does not work, she paints colourful pictures. “Painting helps me calm down,” she says.
Back in Ukraine, the family had a good life. They lived in Kryvyi Rih, a big city in the southeast of the country. Natalia worked in a grocery shop while her husband was working as a miner. The couple had a house, in which they lived with their two twin daughters, Daria and Alexandra, and Natalia’s mother-in-law Vasilica. The girl's grandmother recalls: “I was looking forward to spending time with my granddaughters, but then the war started.” Natalia also remembers the time in Ukraine. She dreams about going back with her family, but right now, it is not possible. “I just want my life back,” says Natalia.
The two girls, Daria and Alexandra, are going to kindergarten in their new home in Etulia. It is difficult for the girls to make friends and play with other children, because the local kids speak in Gagauz with each other, which is the local language that the twins do not speak. The situation is hard for them. “They often ask me if we can go back to Ukraine,” says Natalia. Additionally, to the language barrier, there is not a lot to do for kids in the town, because the area is so remote.
Caritas Czech Republic supports refugees from Ukraine
Caritas Czech Republic supported the family by providing them with cash support for the first months. In addition to the money, they received vouchers for winter clothing. Furthermore, the family received a hygiene kit. Vasilica, Natalia’s mother-in-law, left Ukraine at the same time as Natalia and also received support from Caritas Czech Republic.
Caritas Czech Republic supports refugees from Ukraine since the outbreak of the war. In Moldova, we have equipped refugee accommodation centres and increased the medical and psychological service availability. We also support refugees financially and help them build a self-sufficient life.
We want to thank everyone who supports us.
