War in Ukraine: Poland, Germany and Israel overwhelmed by the growing influx of refugees
Audio 01:18
Refugees fleeing Ukraine arrive at Berlin Central Station from the Polish town of Przemysl on March 11, 2022. © Annegret Hilse, Reuters
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5 mins
As the fighting continues in Ukraine, and approached the Polish border on Sunday March 13, the civilian population continues to flee.
Through Poland, many seek refuge, notably in Estonia, Germany - where Berlin is facing an influx of refugees exceeding the wave of 2015 - or in Israel.
The Jewish state notably had to lighten the reception criteria after a controversy over the “Law of Return”.
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Wrapped up in warm coats, they line up to get on a bus,
many women, children
, tired, with tears streaming down their faces: these Ukrainians have just crossed the border post of Medyka in Poland on foot, to to take shelter from the fighting which intensifies every day a little more in Ukraine, reports
our special correspondent on the Ukrainian-Polish border,
Murielle Paradon.
Tanya, a 25-year-old psychologist, preferred to leave with her younger brother while there was still time: “
We are coming from Ternopil, but normally we live in Kiev.
In Kiev the situation is frightening, people can no longer live in safety.
That's why I went to western Ukraine.
It's calm now, but what about tomorrow
?
We can't predict anything.
»
Julia, accompanied by her 10-year-old daughter, comes from the suburbs of Kharkiv.
Leaving her life and her family was heartbreaking for both: “
It was hard for her.
She didn't want to leave her grandparents, her friends, her school.
I didn't want to leave either, I don't want to be a refugee.
This is the worst trip of my life.
»
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To read and listen also:
Poland: refugees from Ukraine continue to arrive day after day
Julia and Tanya get on a bus under the control of the Polish army.
They plan to find refuge with friends, in Estonia and Germany,
among other
places, in the meantime: they hope to return to their country very soon.
The city of Berlin, overwhelmed by the influx of refugees, asks the German state for help
In Berlin, around 10,000 Ukrainian refugees arrive every day by train, bus or car, while in 2015 the average number of migrants arriving from Syria in the German capital every day was around 1,000.
The capital is now facing an unprecedented situation, must react urgently and ask for help from other regions and the federal state, reports
our correspondent in Berlin,
Pascal Thibaut
.
“
We are overwhelmed by the situation
”: the mayor of Berlin, Franziska Giffey, usually always with a smile on her face, recognizes that the situation is serious.
Berlin Central Station quickly turned into a makeshift reception center with many volunteers distributing food, helping
refugees
, offering private accommodation.
300,000 beds have been offered, and charitable organizations are active day and night.
The municipality counted before the Russian invasion on 20,000 refugees: more than 100,000 have undoubtedly arrived so far.
Faced with the influx, the city is urgently organizing accommodation centers, in particular under a tent in front of the station, in the halls of the fair, on the site of the former Tegel airport.
Other regions are called for help, and buses transport refugees there, if they accept it.
But larger cities with larger Ukrainian communities are more attractive to refugees.
According to the rules of distribution between the regions, Berlin should only welcome 5% of the new arrivals.
But the city, which did not shine for the care of Syrian refugees in 2015, must now bear a much heavier weight and feels abandoned, while the task to overcome has a national scale.
Israel eases reception conditions for Ukrainians after 'Law of Return' controversy
On the other side of the Mediterranean, Israel has also had to review its reception parameters for Ukrainian refugees, but also from Russia, after a debate within the government.
While the Jewish state initially took a hard stance on the criteria imposed on arrivals who do not meet
the parameters
of the Law of Return, the government has had to scale everything back and now welcomes refugees with open arms. whether they are Jews or not.
Naftali Bennett, the head of the Israeli government
does not comment on the question
.
For Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Israel has a moral duty to welcome Ukrainian refugees.
And Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, who has taken a tough stance on this issue, has been outvoted in her own government.
After proposing very severe quotas and threatening the refugees with expulsion, it did an about-face on the evening of Sunday March 13, reports
our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Michel Paul
.
Israel, she recalls, is first and foremost “
the national home of the Jewish people,
” but other people will be allowed to enter the territory within “
certain limitations
,” she adds now.
In other words, refugees meeting the parameters of the "Law of Return", of Jewish religion but also their family members who are not, will be able to obtain Israeli nationality upon arrival.
No quota will now be imposed for refugees with family members, even distant ones, in Israel.
In general, it is said, Israel will warmly welcome all arrivals.
By the end of the month, 15,000 Ukrainian Jews are expected, in addition to the 5,000 who have already arrived.
Easing the criteria could encourage tens of thousands of refugees to come to Israel.
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Also to listen: Poland: refugees from Ukraine continue to arrive day after day
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