‘This has to end’: Jill Biden sees Ukraine moms’ heartbreak
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA » Jill Biden heard heartbreaking stories Saturday from Ukrainian women and children who fled Russia’s war and found safe haven in Romania, with one mother telling the U.S. first lady of a harrowing escape after being holed up in a cramped, cold basement with her traumatized 8-year-old daughter.
Reaching Romania “was a game change for us,” Svitlana Gollyak of Kharkiv, Ukraine, told Biden in her native language during the first lady’s tour of a Bucharest public school hosting refugee children. Gollyak said her daughter “feels much better here . ... No more tears and she adapted very nicely.”
Biden told Gollyak and the other women, “I think mothers will do anything for their children,” adding that they were “amazingly strong and resilient.”
Biden said her message to the families was “we stand with you.” During a craft activity, she watched as the children scrawled messages on paper cutouts of their hands. One young Ukrainian girl wrote, “I want to return to my father.” Biden later told reporters the girl’s words were “heartbreaking.”
The first lady praised the Romanian government and relief organizations for the range of humanitarian aid they are providing to refugees. At the school, the first lady — herself a teacher — saw how teachers are helping some of the approximately 900,000 Ukrainians who have fled to Romania since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
“Really, in a lot of ways, the teachers are the glue that help these kids deal with their trauma and deal with the emotion and help give them a sense of normalcy,” Biden said.
She added that she saw signs of hope for families who “felt that there was some structure to their lives
and they were getting supplies. Zapata, the Romanian representative They all realized how for the U.N. refugee much money the United agency. States has been giving to The United Nations, other Ukraine and to the refugee agencies and the Romanian situation and to Romania to government are assisting support the refugees.” refugees with food, shelter,
Most of the Ukrainians education, health and mental who have fled to Romania, health care, and counseling, mainly women and among other services. children, have moved on to Biden asked specifically other countries, but about about the provision of mental 100,000 remain, officials health services and said. whether summer school
Earlier, Biden was briefed was available to help refugee at the U.S. Embassy on the students catch up on relief effort. Her visit to their education. She said Eastern Europe comes as later that “the whole world President Joe Biden is pressing is seeing that we need more Congress to pass an additional mental health” assistance $33 billion in security for the children and their and economic assistance parents. for Ukraine. The first lady is on the
Jill Biden called the show second day of a four-day of solidarity “amazing” but trip to Romania and Slovakia, also “just the beginning.” which shares a border She said it was inspiring with Ukraine, that is designed for Romanians “to welcome to showcase U.S. support all these refugees into their for the refugees. Biden homes and offer them food was scheduled to spend Sunday, and clothing and shelter and Mother’s Day, meeting give them their hearts.” with refugees in Slovakia
But she also cautioned and visiting a border village. that much more needs to Biden had lunch with Romania’s be done by the U.S. and allies first lady, Carmen to assist Ukraine. Iohannis, at her private residence.
“We’re all hopeful, right,” Iohannis, who accompanied she told reporters. “We wake Biden during the up every morning and think school visit, kept her job as ‘this has to end’ but it still an English teacher when her keeps going on and on.” husband took office, just like
About 7,000 Ukrainians Biden kept hers teaching at cross the border and arrive a Virginia community college. in Romania daily, said Pablo