As the number of people evacuating from Ukraine due to the military invasion by Russia continues to increase, a Japanese man engaged in support activities in the neighboring Polish city told NHK that "the evacuated people are worried about their families remaining in their home countries. , I am deeply hurt by the completely changed state of my hometown and need support. "
Ryutaro Sakamoto (36), who runs a Japanese language school in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is helping people who have evacuated at the "Support Center" in Celestynów, the eastern part of Poland where he lives.
About 50 people a day are evacuated to the center from cities all over Ukraine, and about 500 people have been evacuated so far, and Mr. Sakamoto is accepting and procuring relief supplies.
Most of them are women with children who have evacuated with their husbands and fathers left in Ukraine, and many of them often contact their separated families and shed tears because of anxiety.
Also, about half of them have been evacuated from the area that was actually attacked by the Russian army, and it is a strong shock that the scenery of their hometown that they were accustomed to has changed completely in just one day due to bombardment etc. am.
Mr. Sakamoto said, "Many people are evacuating leaving their husbands, brothers, and sons behind, and everyone feels strong resentment and sadness that the connection with her beloved family has been torn." I'm talking to you.
In addition, many people were shocked by the appearance of their hometown that had changed due to the attack, so when a woman from Kharkov explained her city, she rephrased it in the past tense as "it was a beautiful city." There was something that made me feel really deep sadness. "
Mr. Sakamoto and his colleagues are currently continuing support activities in cooperation with local people, and it is said that there are almost no shortages of supplies so far, but long-term evacuation destinations will be secured and the number will increase day by day. I also feel anxious about how much support the evacuees can provide.
Mr. Sakamoto said, "In the situation where the number of people evacuating in front of us is increasing, we cannot afford to discuss how to deal with the prolonged period. In Ukraine. Since important facilities and infrastructure facilities have been destroyed, it is not possible to say, "Because the war is over, support will end there," and I think we need to be prepared to continue support for a long time until reconstruction. " I'm talking.
He then complained, "I would like Japanese people to warmly accept evacuees when they come."