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Now a woman, like another 4 thousand. Migrants arriving in Lithuania live in one of the refugee accommodation and detention centers. Each story of those who came here is different, and their senior Sevės differ in that at a respectable age she came to Lithuania alone, without the closest relatives.
One raised the children
The man, according to the woman, died 20 years ago in a war declared by Iran by the then Iraqi regime (under Saddam Hussein). Kurds, like other Iraqi youth and men, were forced to participate. After the death of her husband, Seva was left a widow with three children who were still young at the time.
“We were poor even before the war. We lived in a town where there are few opportunities to earn money. Due to various illnesses, my husband and I lost five of our children. And when the husband died, I was left with three, later still small children. Of course, it wasn’t easy. But then I was younger and more vibrant, so like all mothers, I did my best to feed them. I worked in other people’s houses, managed them, cooked food. I was thankful because at night I was also able to take it to my children, ”says Sevė.
As the children grow older, the woman says she wanted the only thing: the best possible future for her offspring.
“I dreamed of seeing them get married and live better than me. Therefore, I saved all possible funds for the future of the children. However, I didn’t earn a lot of money working for people, I was usually paid for food, says a woman of Kurdish origin. – So, the main source of savings was my pension, which is paid to the widows of the war victims. Later I invested these savings so that the children could go elsewhere in search of better opportunities and a future. Where it is safer to live and there are more opportunities to work and feed your family. “
Losing his pension became a burden on family members
Thus, six years ago, the first son of Seva left for Europe, and three years ago, the other two. One of them is protected and works in a factory in Germany.
“The most important thing for me was the children’s future, I wanted them to be able to create it for themselves. While I was in Kurdistan, I was living off the rest of my pension, the woman says. And here he adds, while he was still getting it. I lost my pension twelve months ago. Then I was seriously ill and for three months in a row I was unable to go to the city where I had to withdraw my benefit. And in such cases, the Iraqi authorities suspend payments. That’s what happened to me. “
Then, according to Sevė, relatives took turns taking care of it: every week or two, the women traveled from one house to another. But after a while, the grandmother felt the burden.
Before death, tenors want to see children
But it is not just the feeling that you are a burden to family members who take care of you that has saved you from your country. It turns out that the disease that plagued a woman for more than a year was cancer. And after the operation, the doctors did not promise a long-term future. It was the last incentive for a woman to leave her country and go to Europe.
“I don’t want anything from Europe. Just before death, see your children at least one more time. I don’t need anything else from Europe,” says Seve with a shaking voice. – I sold all the remaining items, clothes, gathered all the savings and I came here in a dress to see my children. And then I can die in peace. “
The public is invited to contribute
The Lithuanian Red Cross, which provides humanitarian assistance to migrants in our country, asks the public to contribute to the assistance to migrants. According to the representatives of the organization, there is currently a great lack of voluntary help in several Lithuanian cities, but especially in those that provide assistance in migrant camps: Vilnius, Kaunas, Alytus and Visaginas. Volunteers are needed for various tasks: sorting clothes and items; food distribution; assistance in registering newly arrived foreigners (from other places to the Medininkai container house territory); employment with children (in Pabradė and Rukla), etc.
Volunteers go to refugee camps in crews and work in shifts for approximately 3-4 hours. You go to the camps both during the day and at night (depending on the work that is done in the camp), but there is a great shortage of people who can dedicate their time in the evenings and on weekends.
You can complete the volunteer form here.
It is also possible to donate an amount of your choice to meet the basic needs of vulnerable people: https://donation.redcross.lt/zmogiskumassvarbiausia
Donations can also be made by calling the short numbers – 1410 donation 10 Eur, 1408 donation 5 Eur.
All the funds raised will go to basic hygiene products, milk formulas and other products for babies and children, clothing and footwear for the cold season, and the organization of aid.
Find out more about all the possibilities to help migrants here.
