First Ukrainian refugees in psychiatric center

Today or tomorrow there will be more Ukrainians fleeing their homeland before the war.

“Hard journey behind us”

Anna and Abdel are two Ukrainian refugees who have been staying in the psychiatric hospital Onze-Lieve-Vrouw in Bruges since yesterday. They left the northeastern city of Kharkiv in a hurry on March 2, where Adbel is a cardiologist. Now they have arrived 2600 km from their home in Bruges.

“It was a hard journey to Belgium. About 12 nights on the way. We mostly slept in the car. It was really hard. 142925 We decided to come to Belgium because we hear that you help the Ukrainians very well. That’s right. We came here and they try their best to help us here. We are very grateful,” said Abdel Nour and Anush Aryutyunyan.

Dasha, a 27-year-old mother with two children aged 3 and 4, has also been staying in Bruges since yesterday. Her husband stayed behind to fight in the army.

“Department was empty”

There are currently 14 refugees in the psychiatric hospital, at the request of the city of Bruges.

Marc Vermeire of the psychiatric hospital: “We had a ward here that was empty for only a few weeks and that was suitable for that. We can actually help those people perfectly and we accepted that proposal. We provide the infrastructure, meals, linen, cleaning. That’s our contribution.”

Tonight or tomorrow, this institution expects even more refugees. There is room for about forty people.

“Our hearts are broken. Our hearts are broken. Every day more and more when we see how they (Russia, ed.) destroy the city.”

The psychiatric hospital has been home to Ukrainian refugees for at least three months. They hope to be able to return to their homeland soon.

“We hope the whole world is crying out to stop this war.”