Platon (6) Fled With His Family From Kyiv, Ukraine
PLATON SAYS, "WE CAN'T GO HOME BECAUSE THEY'RE SHOOTING ROCKETS."
Photo: Petar Masut
IN AN EMPTY ROMANIAN GUESTHOUSE, PLATON'S FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES FROM UKRAINE ARE TAKEN CARE OF
Photo: Petar Masut
“A big boom”
It has only been three days since Platon was happy at home in Kyiv, together with his parents, brother aged four and two-year-old sister. In a matter of days, his whole world has turned upside down. “We heard a loud boom that scared us all. It caused the car’s alarm to go off. Mum and dad threw our suitcases in the car and we left."
Crossing the border on foot
Once on the road, it soon became clear that fleeing across the border by car would not succeed. Platon says: “There were a lot of cars on the road and we stood still for a long time. Then, we had to walk to the border - it took forever. I got very, very cold. I was allowed to put on dad’s coat, it almost came to the ground.”
After a five hour wait in the mass of people huddled at the border, it was finally their turn. When Platon’s dad was asked to show his passport, his hand shook so much it almost fell off. “They gave me a sandwich”, says Platon. “Then, we were taken here.”
PLATON: "THERE'S A SWEET CAT HERE, HER NAME IS FRIEND, BUT MUM CAN'T GO IN BECAUSE THIS ISN'T OUR HOUSE."
Photo: Petar Masut
Psychosocial support in a safe place
'Here' being a vacant holiday home in the Romanian city of Suceava. In this guest house Platon and his family are being looked after by local social and aid organisations and Romanian volunteers who are in close contact with War Child. In these border areas, we are preparing to train partners, sharing our knowledge and expertise.
In this way, we create a safe place for refugee children - one where they are protected and can also access emergency psychosocial support.
"At home they shoot rockets"
And support is desperately needed. For Platon, his family and thousands of others, the nightmare has only just begun. Platon: “We can’t go home because they shoot rockets there. But here, the bed is weird and the language is strange."
He looks out the window, then adds: "There is a sweet cat called ‘Friend’ - but my mum doesn't let her inside because this is not our house."
Despite the chaos around them, Platon and his siblings are doing what they do best - making a Lego playground out of the bedroom and kicking a football back and forth. Downstairs in the kitchen, the parents gather; eyes bleary yet glued to the news; fearing for their loved ones who stayed behind.
