Voices of Hope from the War

Mrs. Lilia, an 82-year-old woman from Mirgorod, Ukraine, visited Moldova for the fifth time since the war began. This time, she brought a friend, Rima, along for some rest. Even though the situation in Mirgorod is not extremely dire, the occasional sound of gunfire can be heard in the distance, against the constant backdrop of sirens. Lilia confesses that she has forgotten what it’s like to live in peace, which is why she invites her neighbors or friends to escape the constant noise of war.

She expresses her desire to see the sea again and is planning her next trip to one of these destinations, hoping to visit Odessa in peaceful conditions. Rima, on the other hand, is more reserved. She fears returning home but doesn’t want to stay in another country either. Since the war began, she has heard many stories, including one about a six-year-old girl from a nearby town who died in an explosion. The community was deeply affected by the tragedy, as the girl’s father was at the front, and her mother had to bury her alone.

The women recount that in their town, there are few men left, as most are on the front lines. One woman’s grandson stayed behind to care for his bedridden mother, a circumstance that, paradoxically, spared him from the war.

During their visit to Moldova, the women received a bag with essential items, including a flashlight, which brought them great joy due to the frequent power outages. Mrs. Rima also received psychological counseling from Safe Space, where she shared her fears. They were also informed about the services available in Moldova for Ukrainian refugees.

This activity is part of the program “Improving Access to Essential Health Services and Protection against Gender-Based Violence for Refugees from Ukraine and Host Communities,” supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Moldova) in the Republic of Moldova and funded by the European Union.

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