Return trip of the Ukrainian children from Burgenland: a difficult fate

Return trip of the Ukrainian children from Burgenland: a difficult fate

The preparations for the return trip of Ukrainian children, who have been housed in Burgauberg-Neudauberg in the Güssing district since March 2022, are in full swing. The children's departure is scheduled for Sunday, 3 a.m. This return transport is carried out with careful planning by the Senecura Group, which acts as a neighborhood operator. However, Pascale Vayer from the “Little Hearts” Association, which looks after the children, is not very optimistic about the journey, which is characterized by uncertain conditions in the target region.

A third of the children have a disability and is to be picked up with three buses before they travel on by train later. Her goal is Kropiwnitskij, a region that has been severely affected by Russian military actions in the past. A meeting with a representative of the Ukrainian embassy took place on Saturday to clarify the course of the return trip. Despite the incomprehension of the neighborhood operators about the decision, they have no influence on the processes, since custody for orphans and foster children is responsible for the head of the Ukrainian facility. This has decided with the responsible Ukrainian authorities to bring the children back.

Security and framework conditions

The children's return takes place at a time when the conflict in Ukraine continues to have massive effects on the civilian population. On February 24, 2022, Russia began with a large -scale invasion, which is classified as contrary to international law. This offensive aggression has triggered a human rights disaster, as clearly noted by the human rights organization Amnesty International. The Russian armed forces are suspected of having committed war crimes and other serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and attacks on civilian infrastructure as well as the illegality of bombing in urban areas.

In the context of the continuing dangers for the returning, the UN refugee high-commissariat UNHCR expresses criticism of the return transport and questions the safety of the children. However, the state of Burgenland has assured that the quality and circumstances of the home offer were carefully checked and that withdrawal of the custody is not possible from the country's perspective.

auxiliary measures and international responsibility

The situation of the children is only part of a much larger picture that shows the current humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Unicef ​​has been present in the region since the beginning of the war and has initiated extensive aid measures. This includes the provision of clean water, medical care and support for educational institutions. Over 1.4 million children have already benefited from these programs. In neighboring countries such as Poland and Romania, institutions have been set up to offer refugee families information and support. These points of contact, known as "Blue Dot", play an important role in offering the families affected a piece of normality.

The international community is asked to do everything in its power in order to help the affected people in Ukraine and to hold those responsible for the crimes committed. The pressure on the Russian government of rethinking its approach and ending the conflict remains high.

As the situation in Burgauberg-Neudauberg shows, the returning children symbolically stand for the fate of many who suffer from the devastating consequences of the war.

For more information on this topic and the ongoing aid measures, visit the pages of Nachrichten.at amnesty.de and unicef.de .