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LAST UPDATE | 9 Mar 2022
SINCE THE CONFLICT in Ukraine began, the biggest mass movement of people in Europe since WWII has been underway.
Over two million people have so far made their way westward by whatever means they can find, seeking refuge in the European countries bordering their conflicted homeland.
The stories they tell paint a picture of trauma, heartbreak, and uncertainty.
Reality on the ground
As part of the Concern emergency team, I have visited five major border crossings in Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary in the past week, speaking to dozens of people as they make the bewildering transition to their new status as refugees. (Incidentally, “refugee” is actually a formal term as defined by a 1951 UN convention, so those coming now are technically asylum seekers or displaced persons.)
There are common threads to each story. Surprise and shock that the predictions of war were accurate, conflicted feelings about the decision to leave, the trauma of evacuation, and fear for those who have been left behind.
We met Ashutash and his extended family at Záhony station, as they crossed the border into Hungary after a marathon 48-hour train journey from the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine.
“Bombs were dropping all around us for four days. We thought it would be over quickly, but it just got worse. We had no intention of leaving at all, but I have a two-year-old daughter and a wife and her elderly parents and it was just too dangerous to stay.”
He tells us that the family saw things no one should ever see — gruesome scenes of brutal death and destruction. His intention was to take another train to Budapest and then figure out a plan for what to do next.
From what we have seen, the majority of people who have been crossing from Ukraine up to now are those who have the means to travel and who have family or friends in neighbouring countries or further afield.
‘Saving to buy an apartment’
In Poland, we met 31-year-old Alina, who told us of her own four-day journey from Kyiv to meet up with a friend who had travelled from Portugal to collect her at the border.
I spent the last seven years saving all my money to buy my own apartment and then I had to pack everything I own into a backpack and leave my whole life in Ukraine behind me. I was on the 23rd floor and it just wasn’t safe. The TV tower in Kyiv you saw on television being blown up — that was the complex where I worked.
Ironically, Alina had arrived back in Ukraine from travelling abroad just five hours before the first fighting broke out on 25 February.
This weekend, at a tiny frontier post in the hills of Slovakia, we met a woman with two children who had just crossed over from Ukraine. In a painfully poignant scene that has been replicated tens of thousands of times in the past week, she had just said goodbye to her husband, who had accompanied the family on their journey to the border.
He was going back to take part in the fight. Their kids, packed into the family car among salvaged possessions, did not know when — or even if — they would see their father again. It’s honestly heartbreaking to even think about.
For now, the situation for those fleeing Ukraine is to some extent under control. Local civic organisations have been assembling donated goods and providing food, warm clothing, basic necessities, and even SIM cards to those who need them.
A fleet of buses, vans, and cars, mostly organised by volunteers, has been bringing the displaced to their next destinations.
We have met people going to almost every country in Europe. Jan Krejcir was waiting at the border in Vyšné Nemecké for his Ukrainian friend’s three teenage children as came across on Thursday.
He had driven over 800 kilometres from the Czech Republic and was bringing them home that night. “We will look after them as long as we’re needed,” he told me.
Mammoth task
The big concern from a humanitarian perspective is what happens next. The United Nations is predicting as many as four million people will try to leave Ukraine in the coming weeks if the conflict continues.
Many of them will be in a very different situation to those who went before, without reserves of cash or a network of friends and family to support them. The efforts of volunteers and host communities will come under strain and support systems will be severely tested.
It’s unlikely, for now at least, that the type of large refugee camps we have seen in other displacement crises will start to appear, but this is a crucial time for making preparations.
The Concern team here has been assessing the potential needs, making connections with partner organisations, and putting the systems in place to build an effective response. What that may look like remains to be seen, but increasingly the most effective way to support people in need is simply to give them cash to pay for what they need.
That is especially true in the context of western Europe, with fully functional markets and an array of services. The level of trauma experienced by people in a conflict setting can be hugely damaging and psycho-social support is important.
Also, providing social protection for vulnerable people is crucial — remember almost all of those leaving Ukraine at present are women and children.
And then there are those who are left behind. Concern’s partner, PIN, has emergency operations already underway inside Ukraine itself and we stand ready to support people in need but delivering aid in a conflict zone is incredibly perilous, complex and expensive. The generosity of the Irish people has once again meant Concern and other organisations are now well placed to respond effectively.
It’s our earnest desire is that none of this will be necessary. The best thing that could possibly happen is a cessation of hostilities, allowing the displaced a chance to return home and rebuild their lives. There are many other humanitarian crises that need our attention — Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa principal among them — but we must be prepared for the worst in Ukraine, in the hope that those plans won’t be needed.
Kieran McConville works for Concern Worldwide. To donate to Concern’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal visit www.concern.net.
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For the first time ever I voted sf, obviously I am not unhappy with Ireland being the fastest growing economy in Europe or the fact that we attract multinational business here. Myself and my husband both work for big company’s and commute between here and the uk and we benefit from a fg government. BUT unless you witness the social and housing problems within your own family I don’t think it hits home we need a change. My sister needs a change she needs help and fg/ff don’t care about her. We need a government to care about everyone. And do their best for everyone. Not just the well off!! But I feel we are now stuck in the same rut!
@Natalie Defelice: Wait for it …..
@Colette Kearns: living in hope!!
@Natalie Defelice: you’re not alone, regardless the outcome of this election, the cozy cartel will have their apple cart spilt. 2020 is a tipping point, 2024, 2028, 2032, in our life time, the shift will change!
@Natalie Defelice: good you voted .
Why do you think the government don’t care? I think lack of empathy is not a common trait.
They have grown the economy and a result we are spending more money than ever before on the health system.
There is increasing amounts been spent on social issues.
We could in theory follow a more socialist route but the problem could be we end up losing some economy and have less money to spend overall.
@Rory Mac Daibhéid: we could? They couldn’t just wait for the count
@Rory Mac Daibhéid: spending more on the health service ? The extra 1 billion to build a hospital in an already congested part of Dublin. How you can defend this government is laughable. They are reactive rather than pro active.
@Natalie Defelice: its complicated as they say but well said natalie
@Natalie Defelice: unreal! SF want to heavily tax Multinational companies and people who work for them. You basically voted yourself out of a job. Why couldn’t you give FG more time ffs.
@Daithi De Roiste: No they don’t. They want to fairly tax them at the low rate we agreed, rather than literally no tax at all! Do you not think that’s fair? The rest of Europe does. The EU also agrees with them on the special criminal court
@John Michael Mcdonald: I outlined above why.
They seem to have helped stimulate tax take and as a result there is more money to spend on social services and health.
The hospital should be an amazing contribution to our future, I don’t think we need be overly concerned about the cost.
Tax spend on that construction is recycled a lot as and Numerous Irish companies benefit. When you look at the details of the lists of sub contractors it’s huge .
@Daithi De Roiste: to be honest it really was an agonising decision for myself, my husband and my elderly parents!!
There’s an old saying, you don’t win elections, you lose them. Can Leo stay top fog in FG after this?
Well done everybody!
@The Risen: Leo mist his chance.
* Dog (LOL!)
It was FF election to win,they lost it with continuing confidence and supply, Mr Martin’s excuses for continuing was a insult to the publics intelligence, as he let thousands suffer on trolleys and waiting lists for the good of FF, not the country.
@@mdmak33: didn’t seem to do them much good…
@@mdmak33: I know you wanted an election to get rid of FG, but last election was hung this next one is hung, so you have to ask how often do you want an election. Because we weren’t due one until April next year. The next one due is will be in 5 years. I’d rather who was elected form a decent goverment amongst them sort out the housing crisis, the health Crisis and the gangland crime crisis….
It’s a disaster!
More of the same for years to come,
Will we never learn?
@Al on the contrary ffg vote
gone from 49.3% to 44 %. Seeing as it was 79
% 15 years ago ain’t a bad resultt
@Brian Rigney: agree people seem to think this election is end game for the caballero having more as coalition to use the mirror trick of reversing the cheeks, we just need a cheeky cheek on the same arse not agreeing with the other cheek all the time never mind the RTE the ring in the middle blowing hot air at all as a msm having a good aul giggle at our expense
Based on the early exit polls it looks certain that we’re going back to a FG / FF confidence and supply arrangement, whatever form that takes is anyone’s guess.
A long way to go before SF will be able to get the 80 seats they’ll need to go into government, Ireland is crying out for a viable alternative, unfortunately SF don’t offer one.
@Sean Fahey: yet…
@Sean Fahey: Noticed you had no comments to make today regarding the Ireland rugby international match, were you upset that POM played a very good game today against Wales and we’re given no excuse to continue your foul mouthed tirade against him.
@Sean Fahey: A beacon of light in a delusional world.
Sinn Fein are a party that defends capitalism.
Their role, and that of Boyd Barret et al, is to lead the working class into a dead end, and a trap.
@PV Nevin: ?????
@PV Nevin: any lotto numbers? Or an excuse for the last shower ? FF led us to what exactly?
@PV Nevin: if you ever read a spoof statement, this is it. Regardless of any party you supported, Nonsense given time to spew nonsense.
@PV Nevin: Oh bore the fook off.
Thankfully, enough normal people voted to not bring back the IMF, either through FF, or the amadan policies of SF. No country has yet magiced increasing spending and narrowing the tax base.
Sinn Fein’s tax policies were pure Fianna Fail from the mid 2000s or even 1977! I can’t believe they were proposing to narrow the tax base by so much, they learned nothing from the last recession.
@Reg: spot on reg. hopefully people saw through their bull…. policies
@TMcMahon: PORTUGAL DID JUST THAT. LOOK IT UP.
Oh it’s kinda creepy, they really need to stop lifting grown men over their shoulders!
@Colette Kearns: sexists
@Colette Kearns: Alan Kelly’s picture lives long in the memory. Remember his addiction to power confession when labour propped up Fine Gael?
@Stevo: apologies I should have said grown “ People “ …. better??
If FF go into confidence and supply with FG again, they are finished in next election. They need to separate themselves if they want to survive, not that I’m bothered. I’m delighted for SF.
@Sam Greene: That would take surgery to be honest!
@Sam Greene: FF and FG have large grass roots support. They will be around a lot longer until the grass root members die off.
@Paul O’Sullivan: their top elegance is from over 65 yo in a very recent reliable poll so your point is on the the ball Sam, I bought a box of tea bags a for my mates mother the other day and cause they were a different brand she threw me out of the house
Twitter screaming Coveney could be a goner
@New Day Rising: Serves him right. Repeating SF were ‘selling a pup’ over and over when voters remember FG selling them the USC pup last time.
@New Day Rising: surely not…
@The Risen: ya well sinn Fein were talking shite as good as any of them.
@New Day Rising: serves them rite, this is party that took the cervical check women to high court nothing for workers or penioners in budget , carbon tax to heat one home or to drive to work , childrens hostipal billions not a mention on over run, carers , housing , health, schools, creches, insurance, crime, farming , salaries paid to themselves, rich getting richer poor been left behind, salaries for nurses, teachers, guards, one could go on and on !
@Andrew O Grady: work till drop to get ones pension, and them with gold plated , tax tax tax
Hope the next Dail collapse after about 6 months or a goverment cant be formed so we vote to the polls again… this time SF put a candidate in every constituency and 2 in some…..
@Paul O’Sullivan: And in the meantime we need to ensure everyone is registered once they hit 18. Shocking the amount of young people that didn’t have a vote. Maybe it should happen automatically? Without registration?
Unfortunately parish pump politics has a major part to play still to this day that’s still an issue here. Tip TD who keeps getting re-elected no matter what his alleged transgressions are, voted for and FG counted on his votes in Government! We’ll never truly get change until this stops I think
@Toffeemac: Will only get worse. Our country has deteriorated so much that people have had to resort to begging their local TD’s to help them move hospital appointments up on waiting lists. This ultimately results in a vote. Sad.
FF & FG, both going in as a coalition? That’s a dictatorship in any other word
@chihuahua: that’s a democracy in any other word!
@chihuahua: It means finally a SF main opposition
Is anybody going to mention the “33nd” at all…I’m awful with Grammer, but come on that’s just lazy
@stephen mc galey: Why so awful with Grammer? I liked him as Frasier. Give him a break, yeah?
Will there be any change … NO, THERE WILL NOT!
FFG again . Only this time SF will grow very strong. Time is running against FFG. Lieo and his deputy know so…
We will know the results once the ballets have all been counted.
@Stevo: it’s all a load of bolshoi
@Stevo: would that not be ballots?
I fully understand why so many voted SF. I do like some of their policies, though not in regards to narrowing the tax base. But I still cannot bring myself to vote for a party that did not condemn Martin Ferris for collecting the killers of Garda Gerry McCabe. They still have not proven to me that the people in the party support the bombings in Dublin,Monaghan and Omagh.
@Mark O’Donovan: Well move on, Mark. There are too many other issues.
Its all of very little relevance
@Kenneth Finnerty: like your comment. Little relevance. And this comment lol
I can’t understand why in this day & age that there isn’t some form of online website that people could cast their vote on, using their PPS. Would eliminate the need for all this counting, and undoubtedly increase the amount of votes as it would be more accessible for most people to vote. Also, you’d have results immediately with no errors. Revenue has a website that people can do their taxes through so I don’t see why it couldn’t be done. And don’t come at me with the e-voting machines tripe – that’s a different kettle of fish entirely!
@Paddy Corcoran: Good point, but there’s no craic in it, the system we have is quite entertaining.
I wish the counts started immediately
#Exitpoll #GE2020
https://combatarena.ie/exit-poll-reveals-sinn-fein-let-both-ff-and-fg-off-the-hook/
Hope FG and FF f!ck off
Funny the pictures of them celebrating last time gravy train. We’ve made it setup for life with a nice pension.
What we’ve created this time around is a vacuum. No, there’s no one fit to run the country well enough between them, but we’ve fired the current idlers.
This way we can create that space which will attract a new breed of politician. It’s breaking eggs and to make the omelette, but none of us are going to get fed any time soon. But it’s starting that matters.
One thing about the youth voting SF, it got them to the booths. So if/when they get let down by them, at least they are on board now and involved. politically aware enough to keep on the Dail’s back to do better. At least everyone is taking action of some kind, there’s been terrible passive apathy for years… just what a lazy government loves!
Ud think this day in age we would be able to vote online which would save money and we would have reliable instant results. Just a thought
have your say