The stupid idea of not seeing you again
Israel Fuguemann
Journalist & Photographer
based in Colombia
"The stupid idea of not seeing you again", addresses a silent and inconspicuous subject: The trauma caused by family separation due to an armed conflict; in this case, the one experienced by thousands of Ukrainians (mostly women, minors, old and older adults) who came to take refuge in their neighboring country, Moldova, one of the three poorest countries in Europe. According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), around 7.2 million people have been displaced outside Ukraine; With this, thousands of families were forced to break up in one day to different parts of the planet. The stories and portraits in this series are personally unique, but they are connected by a constant that makes them part of the same drama: the pain they feel for being away and the longing they have to be reunited with their parents, husbands, brothers, sons, and other loved ones (mostly men), who could not leave the country, because martial law obliges healthy Ukrainians between the ages of 18 and 60 to remain in it, even against his will. Not resigning themselves to the stupid idea of not seeing them again, displaced people and refugees resist in centers and shelters in Moldova, a country that, despite having been hospitable, has to offer them few job opportunities and many economic difficulties to maintain themselves. long-term; but despite this, Moldova has a great advantage that makes many of these people stay here: from this place, the return home is less kilometers away.
When the war began, Ludmila and Nikolai decided to leave their country to escape the explosions and gunshots over their city. They are part of the 7 million Ukrainians displaced since February 2022. In Ukraine they still have siblings and family, both hope to return to Ukraine soon to continue the life they lived there for many years. Costesti, Moldova, April 04, 2022. Chisinau Moldova
In a clinic for adults and people with disabilities, some families of Ukrainians in similar conditions take refuge while they hope that the conflict in their country will end soon. Costesti, Moldova, March 29, 2022. Chisinau Moldova
Lidia is in great pain, this year has been very difficult for her, before leaving her home in Odessa, her husband had died due to an illness. Days later she was displaced due to the armed conflict and had to leave everything behind. She now lives in Căușeni, Moldova, with her daughter and granddaughter, but she cannot stop thinking about returning to reunite with her family who stayed in Ukraine. Causeni, Moldova, May 5, 2022. Căuşeni Moldova
Evgenija, 39, and her son Daniil, 6, lived in Mikolayiv, Ukraine. Days after the war started they left their house for Moldova, they have been in the reception center in Chisinau for several weeks and they hope to be able to return as soon as possible to the Ukraine where her parents stayed. Chisinau, Moldova, April 13, 2022. Chisinau Moldova
83-year-old Veronika checks messages from her relatives who are in Ukraine. She is lying in her room in the refugee center in Chisinau, Moldova, because her health in recent days has been affected. Veronika writes daily to her sister and niece who could not leave Kharkiv, the city where they all lived before the armed conflict broke out. Chisinau, Moldova, April 08, 2022. Chisinau Moldova
Irina and her daughter Lilli make a video call to Ukraine, they talk to Lilli's father who could not leave Ukraine, despite having tried. He was stopped at the neighboring border with Moldova while trying to leave the country. Martial law decreed as a result of the conflict with Russia prevents men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country, even against their will. Chisinau, Moldova, April 12, 2022. Chisinau Moldova
Natalia and her son escaped from the city of Nikolaev, Ukraine, when firearms attacks increased. Despite her great sadness at seeing her country suffer, Natalia does not want to return while the war continues. Living in a small refugee center in the city of Chisinau, she wonders which country in Europe will be able to accept them while the war ends. Chisinau, Moldova, april 18, 2022. Chisinau Moldova
Tatiana is 45 years old and left Ukraine in great pain because her husband and son stayed behind to fight in Nikolai, the city where she lived before the conflict began. she came to Moldova with the hope that the war will end soon and she can return home more easily from here. Chisinau Moldova
Un pequeño adolescente mira por una de las ventanas de la universidad de Chisinau donde decenas de familias como la suya viven refugiadas por el conflicto armado en Ucrania. Los refugiados en estas instalaciones forman parte de la comunidad "Romaníe" y son parte de la las minorías étnicas de ucranianas. Se estima que alrededor de 400 mil romaníes habitaban en Ucrania hasta el mes de marzo de 2022. Chisinau, Moldavia, abril 08, 2022 Chisinau Moldova
Edik is a refugee of Georgian origin who is currently stranded in Moldova. Without money, without papers and with the uncertainty of knowing when he will be able to return to his family in Georgia, he occupies room 117 at Moldexpo. Chisinau, Moldova, April 12, 2022. Chisinau Moldova
Oleg is an old boxing trainer who worked in the republics of the former Soviet Union. Today he is waiting for his documents to return to Odessa where he has his home and his family. Chisinau Moldova
Maria, 35, and her two children, Denis, 4, and Veronika, 10, are in a shelter in Chisinau, Moldova. They were displaced from Jerzon, Ukraine, after attacks on their city began. The father of his daughters, his brother with his wife and daughter and other relatives remained in Jérzon. María feels anguish because she does not know when she will be able to return to Ukraine and because the city where she lived is being destroyed, she does not know if when she returns her house will still be standing. Chisinau, Moidavia, April 19, 2022. Chisinau Moldova
Public Story
The stupid idea of not seeing you again
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