Support for Ukrainian mother and daughter.

Firstly, thank you for all your support for Oksana, Maksym, Nastia and Masha.

Nastia and Masha left my home when Masha got a restaurant job but the long hours and poor wages (less than the Spanish minimum wage) ran her into the ground and she had to take extended leave. Some of the money given by you has helped them bridge a gap when they had no income but now Nastia has an online job which supports them. They now live in a neighbouring town together.

Oksana has returned to the Ukraine with Maksym (see photo above) and the remaining money donated from you was able to go towards their long travel home, via Poland. Up until the last week, things were going well, but renewed attacks from Putin on Ukrainian cities has meant that, once again, they are in danger. However, when I speak to them, they are not traumatised or fearful but angry and resolute.

There are sadly new pressures, particularly for those Ukrainians who have not returned. Many short-term employment contracts are terminating in my local area and the few that had work are losing their jobs. As the economic pressures start to tighten in Spain because of inflation and the cost of living, businesses seek to make savings where they can and, as such, temporary employment contracts are not being renewed.

These people don’t qualify for benefits in Spain as they have not worked for long enough in the system. And as you all know, living independently from state support is not easy for people who earn between a low income and no income. Simultaneously, in these austerity times, sympathy is waning for the Ukrainians who through no fault of their own now find themselves trying to survive in another country.

Twice I have had to help out two Ukrainian women for short periods who had been thrown out of their accommodation because the host families were tired of them, annoyed they were not earning enough moneyor had no job. The host families are also under economic pressure as well because of the increased cost of living. Another Ukrainian family in the area have been thrown out because the host family disagreed with them saving the little money they earnt to rebuild their homes and lives in Ukraine, and instead expected them to find their own accommodation in Spain or return.

I seek your support once again for Ana (mother, see photo above) and Yesenia (daughter, 3 years old, see photo below) who are in such a situation: they have been evicted from a host family for these reasons. Being from Kharkiv, no less than 30km from the Russian border, they were immediately on the frontline in early March 2022. Ana recalls seeing Russian tanks move in and hearing incessant gunfire. She retreated with Yesenia into the basement while her husband bravely fought. After a few days, she simply took the car with her daughter and drove, stopping only for food and sleep and ended up in Spain. Her husband sadly was shot dead defending his city.

Firstly, I ask for contributions to costs such as food, electricity, gas and water as they stay with me and secondly so that there are funds to help them return home at Christmas. Any extra money left over I will give them so they can take with them to rebuild their homes and lives.

Please help Ana and Yesenia in these final months before they return to their home country.

All support welcome.