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world news Diaranson 16 Maart 2022

‘I will go back to help’: Women head home to aid war effort

(AP) — While over 3 mil- ordering men to stay and male soldiers were a visible
lion people have fled fight, the vast majority of part of the Ukrainian military
Ukraine since Russia’s in- people fleeing Ukraine have before the war, including in
vasion, a small but grow- been women, children and combat roles. Some women,
ing number are heading the elderly. For those who like many men, are taking up
in the other direction. At can’t or won’t leave, the per- arms for the first time. Plus,
first they were foreign ils they face are many, and gender equality in the work-
volunteers, Ukrainian ex- images such as those of a place as well as the military
patriate men returning to mortally wounded pregnant has traditionally been more
fight and people deliver- woman rushed on a stretcher common in post-Soviet states
ing aid. Now, increasing- from a maternity hospital in like Ukraine than many oth-
ly, women are also going Mariupol testify to the dan- er parts of the world.
back. gers.
Since the invasion, Pol-
Motivated by a desire to help Still, some women have cho- ish border guards have tal-
loved ones in trouble, or to sen to head back toward the lied over 195,000 crossings
contribute to the defense and gunfire and bloodshed to of people from Poland to Filippo Grandi, said in an in- of women who are either try-
survival of their country and contribute in whatever way Ukraine, more than four terview in the Afghan capital, ing to bring help or stay in
compatriots in ways large and they can. in five Ukrainian nationals, Kabul, where he was visiting the country to continue their
small, these women are brav- spokeswoman Anna Michal- to assure Afghans that despite lives as best they can.
ing the bombs that have in- Youtube video thumbnail ska said Tuesday. That in- the horrors of the war rag-
creasingly pounded Ukraine Reached by phone after arriv- cludes people who come and ing in Ukraine they have not “I am returning to Ukraine
since Russian forces invaded ing in the port city of Odesa, return — to buy food and been forgotten. to help people evacuate,”
on Feb. 24. which has so far remained other supplies in Poland and said Maria Khalica, who lives
under Ukrainian govern- go back, or who bring rela- “Everybody’s asking how in Italy and was headed to
Many are not refugees but ment control, Orel said she tives across and return. So many refugees will come out the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
Ukrainian women who had was frightened at first by the some people are counted a of Ukraine,” he said. “The “I am in a more stable state
been living and working air raid sirens and sounds of number of times. answer is very simple: I sim- now than my friends, who
abroad. Others had already explosives, but “sitting and ply don’t know.” are under rocket attacks and
chosen to stay put in their shaking with fear does not Poland has taken in more bombs.”
country but were forced to help.” than 1.8 million refugees — Aid deliveries are making
cross the border to shop for over 60% of the total exodus their way into Ukraine, as “I know that Kyiv is also go-
needed goods as supplies She envisions her role as pro- of 3 million people since the well as reported flows of ing to be occupied and we are
dried up under the onslaught viding medical care, but other invasion, according to U.N. weapons and fighters ready to taking the last chance to help
at home. women might choose to help agencies. The U.N. refugee use them. The Internation- other people” there, Khalica
defend the country militarily, agency had initially predict- al Committee for the Red said, adding that she believes
“I will go back and help. I am she said. ed some 4 million refugees Cross said 200 tons of medi- Russian forces will eventu-
a health worker, so the hos- would flee — a figure that cal supplies and relief items ally seize the capital.
pitals need help,” said Iryna “Women can fight,” she said. may soon be eclipsed. had arrived in the country,
Orel, 50, lugging her luggage “Many women are patriotic including water, mattresses, Some women are returning
as she boarded a train from to defend Ukraine — why “What to say, really? Three blankets, food, first aid kits, to join their families and oth-
Przemysl, Poland, to Lviv in not?” million refugees in the space plastic tarps and more than ers to help in any way they
western Ukraine. “And I will of just over two weeks. This 5,000 body bags. can, either as health workers
stay until the end.” Women rushing into war is frightening and it doesn’t or with the army.
zones or taking part in war stop,” the U.N. High Com- Less noticed has been the en-
With Ukraine’s government efforts is nothing new. Fe- missioner for Refugees, try or cross-border shuttling

UK’s Johnson to visit Saudi Arabia for oil supply talks

(AP) — British Prime pendence on Russian en- ficial said Tuesday. Prince Mohammed bin man rights issues with other
Minister Boris Johnson is ergy. Salman this week in hopes countries, including with
set to visit Saudi Arabia Ahead of the trip, Johnson the Gulf state can increase its Saudi Arabia, and we’ll raise
and meet with its crown Johnson will also use the trip said Western leaders made a production of fuel. Saturday’s executions with
prince for talks on oil sup- to press Saudi Arabia to con- “terrible mistake” by letting the government in Riyadh,”
plies, as he stressed that demn Russia’s invasion of Russian President Vladimir The visit has met with an the spokesman said.
the West must end its de- Ukraine, a Foreign Office of- Putin “get away with” annex- outcry of protest from U.K.
ing Crimea from Ukraine in lawmakers and rights groups, Johnson’s government an-
2014. He wrote in the Daily since it comes just days after nounced last week that the
Telegraph that Western “ad- Saudi Arabia said it execut- U.K. will phase out the im-
diction” to Russian energy ed 81 people in the largest port of Russian oil and oil
supplies had emboldened known mass execution in the products by the end of the
Putin’s invasion last month kingdom’s modern history. year. But the U.K. is much
of Ukraine. less reliant on Russia fuel
Defending his trip, Johnson than its European allies, tak-
“We cannot go on like this. told reporters in London that ing about 3% of gas from
The world cannot be sub- “if we are going to stand up Russia, Johnson said.
ject to this continuous black- to Putin’s bullying,” it will be
mail,” Johnson wrote. “As necessary to talk to other en- Saudi Arabia and the United
long as the West is economi- ergy producers. Arab Emirates are top OPEC
cally dependent on Putin, he oil producers and have the
will do all he can to exploit His spokesman told reporters spare capacity to pump more
that dependence.” that Johnson will raise the is- oil, but have given no indica-
sue of the executions report- tion of an imminent change
Officials have not confirmed ed in Saudi Arabia during his in their oil production policy
details about the visit to Sau- visit. despite rising energy prices
di Arabia but Johnson will due to the Russian war on
reportedly meet with Crown “We routinely raise hu- Ukraine.