A small own house in Moldova is the future plan of a refugee family
June 21, 2022 News

A small own house in Moldova is the future plan of a refugee family

The story of this refugee family is special. There are 6 members in the Emi’s family and exactly half of them were born in Moldova.  One day, Ecaterina, originally from Moldova, and Ion from Ukraine, met. They liked each other and decided to start a family. They lived periodically in both countries – Ukraine and Moldova – and they were always looking for a place where they could build a nest for their children. 

In Ukraine, Ecaterina and Ion worked at the local cardboard factory. Because the salary was low there, their children - the four boys (Valentin 22 years, Petru 17, Pavel 15, Dorin 10), were doing their best to help the family - when they return from school, they accepted to do any paid casual work during the day, contributing in this way to the family earnings. 

Emi's minor children: Petru 17 year, Pavel 15, Dorin 10

A little home was the plan until the war came 

The war found the Emi family in Izmail where they have planned to buy a house.  They had even choose it, but on 24 February the air raid sirens of the anti-aircraft defence gave them the news that their dream had been shattered - Ukraine had been attacked by Russia. Not far from them a military unit was bombed. Nothing was left there.  

I don't know if I'll get out of this hellhole...

At first, they didn't want to leave. They wanted to stay in Izmail, but on February 28 the eldest son, who works as a firefighter, phoned from Kiev. Valentin told them to leave Ukraine immediately. "I have seen hell on earth here in Kiev, especially in the suburbs. Everywhere only explosions, death and fire. We'd put out one fire and immediately set out for another. Leave immediately to save the little ones, because I don't know if I'll get out of this hell in one piece."

After listening to the testimonies of the elder boy who continuous fighting with the fires caused by the Russian bombings, they took what they could carry in their hands and left and arrived in Moldova.

Now they are accommodated in an old house in the village of Dragușeni, commune of Rădeni, district of Strășeni, offered as a temporary host by locals. 

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No internet, no mobile phones and no complaints

Emi family didn't expect anything from anyone - as soon as they arrived, they started working in agriculture, construction... - wherever there was a need for labour force.  

They are day labourer and only rest on Sundays, that's if nobody calls them to work. 

They can't afford to pay for the internet services or mobile telephones so they don't know what's going on at home - "I left very quickly... I didn't even unplug the fridge. We only talk to our son from Kiev if he sends us news, and we only hear about what's happening in Ukraine, in Izmail, from our neighbours.”

The children no longer attend the online classes because they don't have computers or tablets. Nor mobile phones. But they're not complaining. On the contrary, their optimism gives their parents hope that the day will come when they will be able to turn on more light bulbs in the house, have internet and be able to talk to their firefighter brother, as well as continue their studies. 

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 According to the local social worker Tamara Chirica, right from their first conversation they said firmly that they would not go back to Ukraine. "Even if it will be hard, we decided to stay in Dragușeni. We cannot raise our children under the onslaught of bombings. We hope to have the health to save for a small house, even an old one, because Ion (the father) and the boys are good at their job and will fix it".

In confirmation of this, Peter, who turns 18 in the autumn, told us that he wants to become a tractor driver: "On 3 September I turn 18. As soon as I get my passport, I'm going to Ukraine to get my graduation papers so I can apply to a vocational school in Moldova. I want to become financially independent to help my parents and younger brothers." 

Future plans takes a shape

The family is going to receive  the EU-funded cash assistance support. The financial support of 2,200 lei per person is a sign that their dream can become reality. 

Ecaterina said "we want to save this money for the house or use it for something else..." But she didn't have the power to finish her thought because she started crying. There was a heavy silence in the house.

Emi's family have planned to buy a house

The children, Pavel (15 years) and Dorin (10 years), turned quietly to the window. Father Ion bowed his head as if looking for something, and Peter, with an inexplicable smile, found a reason to leave the room – he said someone called him outside...

Then we noticed why he was wearing a shirt with a few sizes bigger - his back was deformed because a vertebra was sticking out.

"Peter had a broken leg and stayed in bed for 6 months. Any movement causes him unbearable pain, so the rupture was very difficult. He did well with his foot, but the immobilization on the bed hunched his back ", sighed Ecaterina.

Suddenly the sadness from the parents' eyes was clear - they were tired of the roads, they wanted to settle in their house, but they would never have enough money for the treatment of the boy.

Pavel, the hard-working son, always cheerful and never cries

On the one hand, the whole family dreams of a home, on the other hand, as Ecaterina says, “it is Pavel, the hard-working son of his mother, always cheerful and who never cries. I don't want to see him sad because I just got him out of the clutches of death. I will cry for him. "

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