affluence à la première permanence juridique pour les réfugiés d’Ukraine
In the waiting hall, on crosses Anna, Ukrainian who has lived in Pessac for ten years. She “took a consultation” for the family of a childhood friend from Dnipro, a couple and three children whom she is hosting in her home. “We want to know if they can work. Anastasia, from Salles, wants to find out about the status of her mother, a refugee from kyiv, sitting next to her.
Oxana, a Russian-Ukrainian who lives in Bordeaux, is framed by two women and a teenager. ” It is my family. They came last week with friends. “A total of nine refugees, including four children, for the moment staying with individuals “in Sainte-Eulalie”.
“We are overwhelmed today,” observes Delphine Meaude, president of the Institute for the Defense of Foreigners, without losing her calm. The permanence mobilizes three lawyers but the waiting file is always full. “These are special stories. It takes time. »
“Ukrainian refugees benefit from the temporary protection status set up by the EU on March 3. But the text is new and its implementation is laborious”
“The questions relate to accommodation, regularization, social rights”, explains the lawyer, who recalls the new framework. “Ukrainian refugees benefit from the temporary protection status set up by the EU on March 3. But the text is new and its implementation is laborious. » Just like the reception. No approach possible without the prefecture’s prior verification procedure, “which takes time, even if it has put in place a simplified request”. Illustration: “a family sleeping at the station tonight,” says the lawyer.
Without discrimination
Temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in France provides for a renewable six-month residence permit and gives access to social rights, to schooling for children, as well as the right to work. “The right to apply for a work permit, corrects the lawyer, which can be refused in practice, like many refugees from other countries. Although they initially recommend it, many lawyers still consider this new status too “vague” and “precarious” and do not discourage refugees from opting for the “classic” asylum procedure.
On leaving, we meet Serges, 24, Ivorian, yesterday studying psychology in Kharkiv, who came here after a long journey. He sleeps “in a friend’s studio, in Bordeaux”. He is looking for a way to extend his studies in France but is not sure if he will be eligible for the new status. “We receive and help here all refugees from Ukraine, not just its nationals, without discrimination,” said Ms.and Meaude.
After the crowds of this first day, the Bordeaux Bar announces that it will double the hotlines, which will be held from March 23 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to noon. Consultations are free and without an appointment.