Ukrainian refugees in Moldova - Sergei Stroitelev, photographer

Moldova is a small country located in Southeastern Europe. The region has a very complex history and its own problems, but despite this, since the beginning of the Russian invasion to Ukraine, this small state has been accepting refugees who are fleeing from bombing and death.

Since February 24, 325,000 people from Ukraine have arrived in the country according to the UNHCR estimates. Most of them use the country as a transit in order to get to Europe but about 96 thousand of people remain in the country at the moment. 93% of the refugees are women with children, pets and hopes to return to their home, where they left their household, business and relatives.

Palanka border

The path of Ukrainian refugees on the territory of Moldova begins at the Palanka checkpoint. Customs officers meet people, check passports and let them into the republic. At the moment, about a thousand people a day cross the border. Near the refugee checkpoint, buses are waiting to take people to a small camp where you can have a bite to eat, drink tea, warm up and exhale - here people are safe and can no longer be afraid for the lives of their children. After several hours of waiting – the time depends on how quickly the bus fills up – the refugees leave for different points – mainly Bucharest – for those who want to leave for the EU or temporary accommodation points in Moldova.

Moldexpo

The largest and most active accommodation center in Chisinau is Moldexpo, an exhibition complex converted into a covidarium, which is now occupied by refugees from Ukraine. The turnover here is incredible. Basically, this point is used as a transit link to spend the night or a couple of days before going to more comfortable conditions - to relatives or to other temporary accommodation points located in a wide variety of places throughout the country - in hospitals, sanatoriums transformed for the needs of the Ukrainians. Such points are serviced by locals for minimal money, or on a volunteer basis. Very often, the volunteers are the refugees themselves, who cannot sit idle and are eager to help other people.

It is worth noting that the conditions in Moexpo are rather ascetic, but people endure and do not complain - they say, everything is better than living under bombs.

III

Shelters

Municipal Physio-Pneumological Clinical Hospital (Chisinau)

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Dormitory of the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences (Chisinau)

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Boarding School (Carpigneni)

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Arena

There is also a temporary accommodation facility on the territory of the Arena in Chisinau. Non-ethnic Ukrainians temporarily live here, mostly of Gypsy or Azerbaijani nationality. According to the employees of the NGO Moldova for Peace, their separate residence is not discrimination, on the contrary, it is their own desire to be live together. People in a difficult situation need peace of mind and environment that is comfortable for them.

On the territory of the complex there is a room with clothes, hot tea. Various NGOs and local gypsy communities bring medicine. Several policemen keep order.

Humanitarian aid

Distribution is arranged at the Moldovafilm warehouse by local NGO Moldova for Peace. Each refugee may collect a bag with vegetables and household goods one time in 10 days.

Hospitality of the locals

The main feature of the region is the hospitality of the locals, which is no wonder, because many people in Ukraine have relatives here.

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Sergei Stroitelev photographer

Sergei Stroitelev, photographer

Sergei Stroitelev
photographer