"The authorities abandoned us": How people live in Ukrainian borderland

22 марта 2022
Belarus continues to accept refugees from the Ukrainian territory. Red Cross tents have been installed at Poddobryanka border crossing point, where all those in need can receive medical assistance and hot food. Heating modules and a mobile control center are deployed.  You can apply for documents, if you want to stay in the territory of Belarus. There is also an opportunity to send food to relatives on the other side. Learn the details from the report of our anchor Anastasia Benedesyuk.

Two villages: Dobryanka on the Ukrainian side and Poddobryanka on the Belarusian one. Similar names and people know each other. Some even have family ties. The population is mostly elderly. They find it harder to leave their homes than younger people. The supply chain in the Ukrainian borderland is disrupted. No food is brought here, and people are cut off from civilization. 

«I'm from Chernigov. There is no communication, no water, no gas, no light. Most of the people have already left under shelling, whoever was able to. How can I go back there? I have an apartment there, I have things there. Everything. I came here with a bag like this. I have everything in Chernigov.»

«Honestly? Our government sits back and does nothing in the full sense of the word.  I went to the village council today. There are 7 or 8 women sitting there. They promised to feed the children, to give them half a liter of can of food. We got nothing. Teaching children. A teacher comes once a week and gives them a list of homework and then takes it away next week. The ATMs don't work. The terminals don't work, there is no cash.»

 

The governor instructed to organize field kitchens for the needy citizens of Ukraine. It is brought from the cafeteria of "Sozh" combine state farm in special thermal boxes. They started with 20 portions, now they bring 40... 

Tatyana Khomenko, food distributor:

"At first they were shy,  They were afraid of what people would say, when they see what they are eating, today they come without agitation and smile. They are even happy with it".

Today, they give soup with noodles, bread, rice with goulash, cabbage salad, tea and a bun for lunch. Dry provision units are handed over by the Red Cross. All work together. 

- It's very tasty. I came here yesterday, too. They come here for some food. I came to order some medicine. They gave it to me.

- But is it convenient for you? 

- Yes, it's convenient, all right, thank you.

The regional Ministry of Emergency Situations deployed heating modules and a mobile control point. There you can draw up documents if you still decide to stay in the territory of Belarus. Medical examination is available in a separate tent. Mostly, people complain of high blood pressure. There was a patient with an eye injury today. They ask for diabetes pills. 

- I’m going to get some medicine. They let me take the medicine without waiting in line

- Don't you have medicine in pharmacies right now?

- We have no pharmacy.  They closed it even before the war. Both hospitals and pharmacies were closed, it's all dead.

- The stores are closed. 

- The stores are empty. There's nothing. No pensions. We pray to God for your President, for people and for Belarus, that God protected you, that there was no war.

Plus, there is a large queue of Belarusians at the border crossing with aid packages. No matter what anyone says, our nations have always been and remain fraternal. 

- There are little kids there, two-year-olds, they cry, they're afraid to come out. We have one brother in Kiev. We can't get in touch with him. We can't talk to him. Another one is in Chernigov, he hasn't been in touch for a month. My sister and I are very afraid. We're all here together. 

- What is the main thing you need there now?

- Flour, sugar, sunflower oil.

- Is that the first aid?

- The first for me.

One can get hot meals every day from 12.00 to 15.00. The medical aid is available at the same time. One can pass food to the relatives from 7.00 to 20.00.