Queues of Ukrainian refugees moved to Heysel on March 14. Atmosphere.
Queues of Ukrainian refugees moved to Heysel on March 14. The children play there on the playground, the adults wait there in resigned calm. As they predict ‘thousands’ of imminent arrivals, Belgian volunteers lament disorganization outside B russels Expo.
“Yes, we’re happy. But this isn’t home.”
Yana and Lisa come out of Hall 8. In hand: two thick A4s adorned with black-yellow-red, sealed with an embossed official stamp. Above, their photos in identity format freeze their weary smile. Mother and daughter have been waiting since 4 a.m. in the lines formed by their compatriots on the heights of Heysel. Since Monday 14 March, the reception center for Ukrainian refugees in the capital has opened at Brussels Expo.
“This is our second day in Belgium. We are staying in the surrounding countryside”, slips the young girl with the youthful face in a mastered English crossbred with these wet “r” that one gets used to hearing. Her mother watches her, relieved, but flabbergasted. “People are very nice. They give us everything we need. But our family, our friends, they are in Ukraine. We don’t know what we’re going to do now”they sigh as they walk away along the Roman road, which marks the limit with the Flemish region.
