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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV: POLAND UKRAINE REFUGEES
HEADLINE: Ukrainian Refugees Eye Return
TEASER: Months into the war, Poland-Ukraine border becomes a two-way street.
PUBLISHED AT: 7/7/2022 8:35AM
BYLINE: Greg Flakus
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Medyka, Poland
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEOGRAPHER: Greg Flakus
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA ORIGINAL
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 2:32
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:
EDITORS NOTE:))
((INTRO)) [[Ukrainian refugees have spread across Europe and the world since Russian invaded their homeland in February, but Polish officials estimate less than half of them have stayed in Poland. But as Greg Flakus reports from the Polish border town of Medyka, many are choosing to stay close to make quick visits across the border – and return home for good when the time comes.]]
((NARRATOR))
Ukrainians have been coming to Poland for decades, to work and study, so it is a natural destination for refugees from the war. Eighteen-year-old Julia is one recent arrival.
((Julia, Ukrainian Refugee – FEMALE ENGLISH - ORIGINAL VOA))
“I want to study in Poland and maybe study and have a job to earn money because we must help our parents in Ukraine.”
((NARRATOR))
She is learning Polish, but she plans to return to Ukraine as soon as the war ends.
((Julia, Ukrainian Refugee – FEMALE ENGLISH - ORIGINAL VOA))
“Because it is our country, it is our home, and we want to return.”
((NARRATOR))
But danger stops many from returning. After fleeing a war zone in Eastern Ukraine, Sofie embraces life in Poland.
((Sofie, Ukrainian Refugee, FEMALE ENGLISH - ORIGINAL VOA))
“I am so like Polish, I even have Polish flag, my favorite. Yeah, I really like Polish guys because they really understand us, they try to help us.”
((NARRATOR))
According to the United Nations, close to 7 million refugees left Ukraine in the first weeks of the war. More than 2 million have returned to their homeland. Four million Ukrainians fled to Poland and more than 2 million are still there.
While some refugees welcome the chance to live in prosperous western European nations, many ignore offers of free transportation to those more distant lands, according to Agnieszka Kosowicz, of the Polish Migration Forum, an NGO that promotes the rights of migrants.
((Agnieszka Kosowicz, Polish Migration Forum (FEMALE IN ENGLISH – VOA))
“Right now, we do have trains and buses that leave to those countries empty or half empty, because there is no interest to move on among the refugees.”
((NARRATOR))
Similarities in language and culture attract Ukrainians to Poland, but
Kosowicz says proximity to their homeland is most important. The drive back to their land was especially strong during the spring planting season, says Kosowicz.
((Agnieszka Kosowicz, Polish Migration Forum (FEMALE IN ENGLISH – VOA))
“A lot of people need to plant things in the garden in order to have crops. // We also see people going for visits to see whether their house is still there or in what shape is the farm.”
((NARRATOR))
Even some Ukrainians whose homes are not currently in active combat zones have chosen to stay in Poland, hoping that maybe soon they will be able to return to their neglected gardens and fields.
((Greg Flakus, for VOA News, Medyka, Poland))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 7, 2022 10:19 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
