August 23, 2023
News
Moldova, a country of three million people, has taken in more than 700,000 refugees since the start of the war in Ukraine, and around 100,000 remain in the country. 41-year-old Maia from Kharkiv also headed here and found refuge with relatives along with her son. The cash support from Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova is helping the family to overcome a financially challenging period.
Maia and her son went to Moldova to stay with her parents
Before the war, Maia worked as a banker in Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. Together with her 12-year-old son Nikita and their cat, the family lived in one of the tall apartment blocks. It was here that the war hit them last February. "At first, we were hiding from the bombs in the basement, but I was scared. If a rocket hit our house, we would be buried under debris. So we moved to the second floor so that we could jump out the window if necessary," describes Maia the outbreak of war.
"My coworkers texted me that they were heading across the border. They told me not to wait any longer to leave the city,” recalls Maia, who decided to leave for neighbouring Moldova, where she originally came from. The family found refuge in her parents’ house in Ceadîr-Lunga in the south of the country.
Thanks to financial help, they can cover the bills
The current situation has left Maia without a steady income. Her parents’ health issues are another worry to the family budget. "My dad is bedridden and needs constant care. His condition has deteriorated over the past year. My mother used to take care of him, but she has her own health problems. She is dizzy and has fallen several times," explains Maia, who is now taking care of her parents, leaving her no room to look for a job.
Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova offered the family a helping hand through immediate cash assistance. "We are very grateful for your help. It is a very challenging time for us financially. We packed only the essentials in Kharkiv and have not yet had a chance to return for more things. We have big expenses now. Especially for my dad, he needs medicine and bandages," says Maia. In addition to financial support, the family also received packages with hygiene items.
No plans for the future yet
Nikita started attending a local school shortly after their arrival. At the same time, he is joining online classes via computer. "The curriculum in Ukraine is a bit broader than the one in Moldova. Nikita would like to become an IT specialist, and in the Kharkiv school, they have classes where he learns programming, and he enjoys it," explains Maia. "But Nikita is happy here. The kids at school are nice to him, and he goes to 3D modelling and swimming clubs.”
The family is not planning to return, as they cannot leave because of Maia’s father. "At the moment, I do not have any plans. Even if the situation in Ukraine stabilises, I cannot leave my mom alone with my dad. But I hope we will return to Kharkiv one day," Maia concludes.
How does Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova help refugees?
More than 700,000 people have headed to Moldova since the start of the war in Ukraine. For most of them, it has been a transit country, but more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine continue to stay in the country. That is quite challenging for poor Moldova. Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova has equipped 12 centres to provide decent housing for refugees.
We helped the war-affected people thanks to support from the Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and Caritas Luxembourg. We provided immediate cash support to refugees while improving their access to healthcare, including psychological support. We also helped refugees with supermarket vouchers, vouchers for clothes, and the distribution of hygiene kits. In total, we supported 15,000 people in this way.
We help people affected by the war thanks to the support of donors who contributed to Caritas for Ukraine appeal. Thank you for helping us to help.
