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In a hotel in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, 51 babies are lined up in a large room.
They were born to surrogate mothers and were supposed to be picked up by their new parents in the USA. USA, China and various western European countries.
MANY: More than 100 babies born to surrogate mothers are waiting to be picked up by their foreign parents. The number can increase considerably.
Photo: GLEB GARANICH / Reuters
But the crown pandemic has closed borders, most transport is canceled, and babies are stranded in Ukraine.
Some of the little ones are with the mothers who gave birth to them, while the majority of health professionals take care of the majority.
“More than 100 babies are now waiting for their parents,” Ukraine’s Ombudsman Ljudmila Denisova told the AP. She believes the number will be around 1,000 if travel restrictions are extended.
– Amazing to have the baby in your arms
Married couple Maria and Andreas Tengros from Sweden have been especially fortunate.
An anonymous person paid for private flights to Ukraine so that he could meet his twins.
“It is an incredible feeling to sit with them in their arms,” Maria tells the BBC.
The couple says the process has been difficult.
– You think you have a solution, you come here, and then new obstacles arise. The crown epidemic is something new for everyone, and no one has the answers right now, they say.
– Very hard
Rafa Aires from Spain managed to enter Ukraine before the borders were closed.
His wife was unable to join for work.
BEACH: Rafa Aires from Spain managed to enter Ukraine before the borders were closed. But now he doesn’t go out with his little daughter Marta.
Photo: GLEB GARANICH
– Every day I have video calls for an hour or more with my wife, so that she can see our baby named Marta. That is the only thing I can do to make her happy. But it is very difficult, emphasizes Aires.
He says the medical staff who care for the babies make a terrific effort.
Ukrainian authorities say they can only allow foreigners to enter the country if a request comes from an embassy.
“Massive substitute industry”
In Ukraine, being a surrogate mother can give birth to a baby for someone else.
One of the companies pays a woman up to NOK 180,000 to give birth to a child.
Parents who want to raise a child in this way should expect to pay more than NOK 500,000.
LONG WAIT: Parents have only seen their babies on video and photos.
Photo: GLEB GARANICH / Reuters
The Ombudsman says that the law governing this activity should be reconsidered and that it would be better if only Ukrainian citizens can take advantage of this opportunity.
Denisova believes that Ukraine has a “massive and systemic substitute industry” and that babies are called “a high-quality product” in the announcement.
“We are not a priority for the authorities at this time during the crown pandemic,” says Albert Totsilovsky, who runs the Biotexcom Clinic, one of the companies offering surrogacy.
The company emphasizes that babies are well cared for, although nothing can replace parental care.
