Maria's story

In Budapest, Hungary, a sports stadium has been converted into a transit centre for refugees from Ukraine. We want to introduce you to one of our ecumenical partners, and to a woman from Ukraine, telling one small part of her family's story. 

Our gratitude to Finn Church Aid for the video and stories.  We've transcribed as exactly as possible.

Daniel Feteke from Hungarian Interchurch Aid describes the transit centre -  the first place that refugees from Ukraine come when they arrive in Hungary.

Hello my name is Daniel Feteke, I'm working for HIA, and we are in one of the transit zones here in Budapest. There are a lot of refugees coming each day here: more than 1000, 2000 people crossing this part. They are staying six hours here in this place and there are a lot of supporting points. HIA is giving some food, hygenic kits, water to those who are coming here. And on the other side there are a lot of services what is provided here for refugees. There are places to have rest on the other side. They can buy tickets to railway if they want to cross to other countries and there are possibilities to have temporary shelter, and we can make accommodation here in Budapest as well.

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Maria talks about how her father and son were stopped from leaving Kyiv by active fire. The dog, Rocky, is muzzled because he is traumatized and can be aggressive. At least half of the families in the transit centre have pets – some more than one.

[Q: Tell me why the dog is nervous?] Because the day before yesterday, my son, my dog, with my father, they can't go out from Kyiv because near Kyiv was under the fire, where the train goes was under fire and trains can't go out from the city. They go by train, only at 6 o'clock yesterday. That's why they was in railway station all night. And the dog is tired, everybody's tired. I wait them on the border, then we met … they go maybe … they go  to Uzhhorod …  we met in Uzhhorod, go to Chop, and cross the border …

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Maria is from Kyiv and was travelling to Egypt when the war broke out. She returned for her father, son and their dog. They are in transit in Budapest while they wait to travel to Zurich where they will stay with family.

We come to Hungary, here. We go to volunteers, and now we know what is 'care' about, because we {get} food, documents made for my son (because his passport out of date very fast) no problem, and then we go to the school to sleep because our train was to come at 9 o'clock and our {next} train was at 4 in the morning, that's why we can sleep at the school. And you know we are very thankful for the help, because when you go out from your where you have work, friends, a school, you have home, with all the things you work over all of your live, you're homeless with just a bag it's very not I think stressful it's like you know you don't understand what is going on and you only think that you should be in safety with the children to save life it's the one thing and you make step by step what you should do. It's why the help of other people is very very very important.