The line of refugees who wanted to cross the border from Ukraine to Romania through Siret Customs, Suceava County, stretched for several kilometres on Thursday afternoon. Although most of them only want to transit Romania to other countries, the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti is ready to support them with food, clothes and objects of necessity, as well as with accommodation.
“We mobilized from the first hour. We have reserves of food, clothing and objects of necessity, which we can provide on request to refugees who want to stay. But the local clergy informs us that, although a lot of people pass through Siret Customs, no one remains,” announced Father Alexandru Flavian Sava, a counsellor at the Archdiocese’s Press and Public Relations Office.
The authorities coordinate efforts to receive refugees. The Church will intervene when asked for help. For those who want to stay, the archdiocese can make available the uninhabited parish houses in the north and the guest houses of the monasteries.
The missionary clergy from the archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti, who will provide religious assistance on request for refugees, already had a training session on Thursday,” Father Alexandru Flavian Sava said.
Three military priests will provide religious assistance from the Romanian Inspectorate for Emergency Situations ISU Suceava and the Gendarmerie, as well as a civil priest Florin Lavric from the Border Police, local press reported.
The three military priests have the blessing of Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina. Still, they listen to the orders from their unit, the spokesman of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti said.
Meanwhile, some people from Suceava mobilized and took water and food to Siret Customs. A local transport company has said it will maintain a bus in the customs for refugees in need of transport.
Refugees arriving in Romania told local media that many residents of the Chernivtsi region in northern Bukovina decided to leave after the Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv airports were bombed.
Ivano-Frankivsk is located in the west of Ukraine and at a distance of fewer than 200 kilometres from Radauti, Suceava County, and Sighetu Marmației, Maramures County.
The law no longer allows men to leave Ukraine. There is a state of emergency in the neighbouring country, and they will most likely be mobilized in the army.
Photography courtesy of the Archdiocese of Suceava & Rădăuți
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