About fifteen refugees arrived from Ukraine at 5 a.m. this Monday morning in Rocourt. After 18 hours on the road, these families shared a breakfast at the Ukrainian cultural center in Liège. At the origin of this trip, a private initiative undertaken by individuals, as Danielle confided to our journalist Vincent Jamoulle: “We left Saturday morning around 4 a.m., heading for Poland. We delivered medical equipment, food, clothes that we had gathered in advance via social networks (…) We wanted to do something ourselves. Seeing people suffer is hard. We wanted to give of ourselves.”
This contingent of 8 cars formed by Belgian individuals took care of refugees at the Polish border. On the spot, these Belgians went to a refugee center, where they began the formalities to transport these families in need and put them in the shelter. “We entered a huge hangar where there were thousands of people, but in which there was silence… It was very strange that with so many people there was not a sound. Even the children were silent, describes Daniel.
Flee the Russian bombardments
After completing formalities and contacting their family members back home, these Ukrainians decided to take the road to Belgium to flee the Russian bombardments. After 18 hours on the road, these families found themselves in Belgium for a stay that they all hope will be “short”. After eating breakfast together, they will take different destinations including Brussels and Lille, where they have accommodation options.
Karina arrived with her 7 year old and 2 year old children. Her husband dropped them off 7 kilometers from the Polish border, unable to go further into the country. The young mother had to walk 7 kilometers carrying her young child in her arms and holding her 7-year-old son by the hand. A grueling journey.
Diana, 17, is traveling with her mother and two sisters. She comes from the town of Irpin. For this young woman who has never left Ukraine, the concern is deep. And describe: “My father stayed there with my grandmother and I am very afraid for him. I want to return to Ukraine as soon as possible.”
