at Toulouse station, a Red Cross stand welcomes refugees
While nearly 3 million Ukrainians have fled their country since the beginning of the war initiated by the Russian government, the devices are multiplying in the Occitania region. several days, the Since Haute Garonne Red Cross a set up a stand at Matabiau station, In Toulouse. Volunteers welcome Ukrainian refugees when leaving the train.
According to Philippe Cousy, secretary of the territorial delegation of the Haute-Garonne Red Cross, they are several dozen to arrive each day. “A number that risk of increasing if the conflict persists“, he explains to The Independent Opinion. Their journeys are facilitated by the free access they enjoy on the Occitanie TER network, but once they arrive in Toulouse, it is necessary to guide them. This is where Red Cross volunteers come in.
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Some transit, others remain
“At first, they welcome them to a point identified and signposted from the quaysthen they give them food, comfort them and advise them”, explains Philippe Cousy. Help that differs according to their background.
There are quite a few who pass through Toulouse to go to Spain or Portugal, where there are Ukrainian communities. Others go to the area because they have contacts, friends or family, but for refugees who plan to stay or don’t know where to go, volunteers direct them to accommodation emergency such as gymnasiums or reception structures”, specifies the secretary of the territorial delegation of the Haute-Garonne Red Cross.
“Do not add trauma”
And understanding is not always obvious. “Leaflets in 3 languages were printed, there are signs in Ukrainian and Russian“, specifies Philippe Cousy. While some refugees speak English and interact with volunteers, online translators are popular, “with the pitfalls that this entails”. A census was carried out with interpreters, and some are reachable by phone in case of emergency. “The goal is to don’t add traumasome are already in a state of post-traumatic stress”, explains the secretary of the Haute-Garonne Red Cross.
About 3 to 4 volunteers hold the Toulouse stand, at the rate of 2 to 3 shifts per day. A device that Should last as long as the war will rage in Ukraine.
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