‘We Take Our Passports And Go Home, Not Enough Patience To Endure This'

A family of refugees from Mariupol spoke about three months in Belarus.

A couple from Mariupol, Ukraine, who arrived in Homel after the Russian attack and the attack on their hometown, were about to return home. The refugee wrote about the reasons and how the family tried to settle in Belarus for three months in one of the Homel chats, writes Flagstaff.

“We have been in Homel for almost three months. Thanks to my son-in-law for giving us an apartment. We arrived with zero rubles, and we were forced to pay 32 rubles per person for a 3-month registration. There are two of us — me and my husband ... We received this money back two months later. Yes, no one forced us to come here, but ... Yes, we do not have babies or young children, we are over 50, so we are not needed here. My husband has been trying to get a job for two months, he went through all possible instances, passed all sorts of tests, underwent medical examination, and they promised him to pay for the culinary courses. However, it’s all dragging on, being checked from all angles, and we’ve been living here for three months. We want to work, earn a living, but we constantly hear: “Tomorrow ...”, “Send us your labor record book ...” Thank you for everything, it’s not a reproach, but we don't have resources to tolerate this any longer. We are taking our passports and going home, health and patience to everyone! We didn’t have enough of it, apparently,” we quote the heartcry of Natalia (name changed).

She added that she had applied for help to the representative office of the International Organization for Migration — we remind that Head of the regional pro-government organization of the Red Cross Ala Smolyak was appointed as the IOM coordinator from the Homel region to help Ukrainian refugees:

“We turned to IOM for help, we are still waiting. It’s been a month and a half now — it’s good they didn’t turn us down though.”

Natallia also turned to the Red Cross for help — she published a photo of the “grocery kit” that they gave her:

“This is the help from the Red Cross. I don’t want to offend anyone, but after a month and a half in the basement, I don’t have the strength to eat cracker rings or biscuit cookies ... Thank you, but the blankets were used, I asked for pillows, I won’t post a photo, I’m ashamed.”

People answered to the refugee in the comments:

“But on the Belarusian state TV they are boasting that the refugees from Ukraine are coming ... Of course they are coming, but what else can they do? Dear peaceful Ukrainians, please do not take offense with Belarus. People in the country are mostly adequate, but as usual, it’s not only you who live in deception here ... There are no conditions in the Republic of Belarus for formalizing a more or less normal life for refugees. Only words”.

Another refugee from Ukraine, who was settled in the Vetka district in a house with no living conditions, answered Natallia. However, she is more optimistic and advises the spouses to also go to the village:

“I will give you the number where I applied. Also, you can turn to the Red Cross in Homel — they ask if you need work and housing. I myself called the state farms, I will give you the phone numbers of the CEOs — you have to knock, and they will open the door for you.

Important to note, this woman’s family got help from Homel volunteers, who collected and delivered essential items at their own expense. Volunteers continue to take care of many other families who found themselves in Belarus face to face with their difficulties.

“Let's help a good person — Lyudmila Alekseevna from the 24-hour stay center in Prisno urgently needs to pay 3 base fees in order to arrange a stay and registration. Lyudmila Alekseevna has no relatives, she is a pensioner, she is 82 years old, and, unfortunately, there is no one to help her,” they explained in the chat.

Volunteers also spoke about a Roma family that arrived in the Homel region from Ukraine:

“Rosa, her husband and six children. Their house was destroyed. And now they live in Dubovy Loh (Dobrush region). The husband has been working on the collective farm for two months now. The family was given a house without electricity and gas. But they asked for help, and they were not denied. Neighbors helped to arrange life, volunteers helped financially. We do not divide the needy either by nationality or by religion.”

At the same time, many other refugees are leaving Belarus. For example, we know about a family from Kramatorsk, who, after staying in Homel, left for Germany. There are also families who are sent to Russia. And for those who remain, Homel volunteers continue to collect food, furniture, clothes, and all the necessary things.