Solidarity is organized throughout France.
This Tuesday, two hundred and thirty-two Ukrainians, mostly women and children - as well as a cat and a dog - were welcomed to Metz (Moselle).
This is one of the first large convoys of refugees to arrive in France.
Arrived after an exhausting journey, in four coaches chartered by the City, they were received at the sports center of the Saint-Symphorien stadium.
After a hot meal, the refugees were able to take a shower there.
Volunteers also distributed clothes and hygiene kits to them and carried out Covid tests and medical examinations.
💛💙 Welcome to #Metz to our Ukrainian friends
👥 Nearly 240 refugees arrived this afternoon at the Center Saint Symphorien thanks to the convoy chartered by the City of Metz and the @EuroMetroMetz 🚌 🤝 A
moving moment of solidarity and brotherhood. #villedemetz #ukraine pic.twitter.com/tQvTX6g2bd
– City of Metz (@MairiedeMetz) March 8, 2022
A few hours later, most of the refugees left to be accommodated with host families.
The Moselle has a large Ukrainian diaspora, some have even been able to find their own families.
Note that the City of Metz has also made hotel rooms available and has announced that it has “requisitioned” apartments rented on the Airbnb platform.
Ukrainian cities caught in a vice
An initiative that warmed the hearts of Ukrainian refugees, upset by the Russian invasion.
" Thank you for the welcoming !
said Natalia Miterevia, 38, who arrived with her two daughters, aged 14 and 11, after a four-day trip from Kharkiv, which has been the target of heavy shelling and Russian missile fire in recent days.
For thirteen days, the country's major cities have been gripped by the Russian army.
"The city no longer exists," she says, very moved.
“Everyone was in the cellars, it's impossible to live like that”.
After ten days in a basement to protect herself from the bombardments, she therefore decided to leave, leaving behind her parents, her sister and her nephews and nieces.
Arrived in Poland after a 24-hour train journey, she was able to board one of the coaches leaving for Metz.
And for the moment, she does not plan to return to Ukraine: "it's not sure, I'm too scared".
In total, it is estimated that nearly 5,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in France since the start of the conflict, a figure "rapidly increasing", according to Prime Minister Jean Castex on Tuesday.