[Details] Voices of Ukrainian evacuees who met at the shelter

"I can't find a place to work or live."

"I want to go back to my country and fight."

These are the voices of Ukrainians living in Polish shelters.

More than 5 million people have been evacuated outside Ukraine.

Even now, two months after the Russian military invasion, many people are still forced to live in shelters.

What are the problems for people who are forced to live a difficult life away from their familiar hometown?

I asked the people living in the shelter the following three questions.

(1) What was the situation when you evacuated?

(2) What are you having trouble with now?

(3) What are you most worried about in your future life?

This time, I would like to introduce the answers of the four people who responded to the interview.

(International Department, Takehiro Kano)

A huge exhibition hall full of evacuees

This time, I visited a huge shelter about 20 minutes by car from the center of Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

The facility that was originally used as an exhibition hall has become an evacuation center and can accommodate up to 20,000 people.

In early April, when I visited for coverage, more than 5,000 people were staying.

Many of the evacuees stayed here for a few days and moved from here to ordinary households in other countries and Poland, so to speak, as a relay station for evacuees.

I asked the evacuees to talk to me here.

1 month robbed

◎ Victoria Zahartna Evacuated

from Chernihiv in the north with her mother and two children

(1) What was the situation at the time of evacuation?

Evacuated from northern Chernihiv with two children.

Her husband and her eldest son remained home.

When the war started, I was confused and just stunned.

I couldn't believe it until the very end.

Then our city was bombed almost every day.

It's been quiet recently.

So the government has begun rebuilding the city.

But I'm still very scared to return to my hometown.

At that time, we couldn't go out, so we were hiding in the air defense in the center of the city for about a month.

There is no light or water, no place to cook or take a shower.

I feel like I've lost my life for the past month.

(2) What are you having trouble with now?

I remember living in an air defense, but compared to that, it's perfect here.

My biggest concern is the health of my 82-year-old grandmother.

I am hospitalized with asthma.

I am very grateful that the hospital is free and the doctors can help me.

At first I was thinking of evacuating to Georgia, where my siblings are, but her grandmother is ill and has no choice but to stay in Poland.

(3) What are your concerns in the future?

Work is the first problem, but finding an apartment, work, and kindergarten are all the same.

First of all, you can't go to work unless you decide on a kindergarten.

I hope everything goes well.

I want to fight for the country when I turn 18

◎ Ms. Micola Haller (17 years old)

Evacuated from western Borini

(1) What was the situation at the time of evacuation?

There was no bombing in our city, but it was nearby.

First, a big rocket fell in the state, and my 63-year-old grandfather told me, "I don't know what's going to happen, so go to Poland."

I am an orphan and my family is only my grandfather.

I came to Poland on the day of the Russian invasion and worked immediately, but the company went bankrupt.

I wanted to rent a room at a hostel, but I couldn't because there were many refugees.

So I came here.

(2) What are you having trouble with now?

I have no choice but to work because I want money.

I can't go to school and sit down.

I also send money to my grandfather.

I will do anything if I have a job.

I have the skills to work at a construction site, and I can quickly learn anything I need.

But many Ukrainians came to Poland at once, so there is no job.

(3) What are your concerns in the future?

He says he will be 18 years old to go to Germany and other countries, or he will not accept it because he needs a guardian.

So, for the time being, I'm thinking of volunteering in Warsaw.

When my birthday on December 20th comes and I am 18 years old, I want to go back to Ukraine and fight.

We don't want war, but Russia does.

I'm not afraid to go to war.

I want to go because I want to fight for the country.

4 family members, I don't know what to do

◎ Marina (20)

Evacuation from eastern Luhansk Oblast with mother, grandmother and sister

(1) What was the situation at the time of evacuation?

We were scared because everything in our city was bombed.

When I heard the loud noise of the missile, I was really scared.

Escape to the corridor or to the basement.

For several days before departure, my mother was stressed and unable to eat normally.

Her grandmother was in a panic.

I often woke up when I heard a noise at night.

Even if you arrive at the shelter and know that this is a quiet and safe place, the loud noises make you scared and jump up and look around.

(2) What are you having trouble with now?

I evacuated to Poland at the beginning of April by bus or train.

I wondered if I should go somewhere else or stay here, but for the time being I decided to stay in Warsaw.

I would like to find a job if possible.

I also need to send my sister to school.

Her sister has been tasked by her teacher, but she doesn't have the opportunity to do it.

We are sleeping in a folding bed.

It's pretty uncomfortable.

(3) What are your concerns in the future?

Finding a job and a place to live is difficult.

There are offers from the reception facility, but I'm looking for a family with small children and my sister doesn't.

If I can find a job, I think everyone may help me find an apartment, but since I have four family members, I don't know what to do best.

I left a pet with a dog and two cats at home.

I was very lonely.

I sincerely hope that it will end soon.

I have a strong desire for peace.

I want to go home.

After all, I want to go home

◎ Oksana Mochernyak (41)

Evacuated with two children from southern Mykolaiv

(1) What was the situation at the time of evacuation?

Evacuated with two children from southern Mykolaiv.

My mother and my 24-year-old eldest son remained home.

I never thought that war would come to us.

But the Russian army did not come to us.

Ukrainians often protect me, but they are very worried.

However, the sirens were constantly ringing, damaging the children's minds.

My 74-year-old mother said, "I'm not going anywhere," but I had to protect my children, so I had to leave her mother and evacuate.

(2) What are you having trouble with now?

I used to run a company that manufactures bread and other products, but now it's getting worse.

I'm out of cash.

It's hard.

I am also worried about the health of my children.

(3) What are your concerns in the future?

I want to go to Sweden.

Because education and medical care are more fulfilling there.

I have a lot of friends going to Sweden and they manage to get a job.

I'm not afraid of language problems either.

But I want to finish everything as soon as possible and go home.

It is a place where you can relax in your familiar home.

Listen to the evacuees

I felt that each of them had problems and suffered deeper as the evacuation life became longer.

At the evacuation shelter we interviewed, meals are provided free of charge, and there are also facilities where children can play.

In addition, the counselor is ready to accept consultations.

However, privacy is still not sufficiently secured, and it is not an environment where people can live calmly, especially for those who evacuate with their children.

The reality that many people are still forced to live in such evacuation reminds me of the seriousness of the situation.

I would like to continue my coverage.