Toulouse: overview of these Ukrainian refugees who wish to return home, despite the war
Of approximately 3,000 Ukrainian refugees hosted in Haute-Garonne, 70% wish to return to their country despite the war.
A possible return to the starting point. More than two months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, nearly 3,000 refugees, mostly women with children, some of whom are young, are currently being received in Toulouse and around The city.
A figure in December of that of the prefecture of Haute-Garonne which was recorded on May 5, “1040 requests for temporary protection”. But to clarify: “However, this figure is to be weighted because all Ukrainian nationals have probably not yet taken this step”.
Two reception centers
The city of Toulouse, twinned with the Ukrainian capital kyiv, the Haute-Garonne departmental council, the Occitanie regional council and the regional prefecture have set up numerous measures to facilitate support for these Ukrainians who have fled the fighting, pay everything behind them, and of which live tragedies.
Two reception centers are operational in Toulouse for refugees who also have access to a toll-free number (05 34 245 245) to facilitate their administrative procedures.
70% of people want to leave
Dana Landais, coordinator of reception and support for refugees at the Toulouse association Free Ukraine, notes that homesickness is increasingly felt. Many hope to return home quickly in view of a situation that seems to have stabilized in the west of the country and in kyiv.
“Out of 3,000 refugees who have received their authorization to stay on French territory, nearly 70% of the families want to return to Ukraine,” explains Dana Landais. For the most part, they are mothers who seek above all safety for their children and their babies. But many want to leave, to see if their house has not been destroyed, to see a husband, a brother, the grandparents who stayed behind. »
“700 people passed through our services”
If the Toulouse hosts and the refugees have found common ground, the future remains uncertain for the latter, at least the time to break down the language barrier. Several French courses with volunteers have opened: at the Lycée des Arènes and at the University of Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier. The prospect of staying a long period in France is also sensitive.
“The most complicated thing for people is to project themselves into the future. Some have found a job that is not the equivalent of what they had in Ukraine. “In Toulouse and since the conflict, assures the deputy mayor Sacha Briand, “700 people went through our own services, before being redirected to the host families”.
The elected official does not see “a wave of returns to Ukraine”. “Those who are based in the kyiv area certainly want to go back, but those who come from Kharkiv or Odessa, for sure less.”