We have 48 hours to move 50kms – we’re so upset, we had just settled into jobs and schools here, say Ukrainian family
OVER 80 Ukrainian refugees have been left distraught after they were given less than 48 hours notice that they had to move 50kms.
The families settled in the Laois area after escaping the Russian invasion last March and many had found jobs and enrolled their children in local schools.
But on Tuesday they were told that they had to vacate the 15-house development, operated by the International Protection Accommodation Services on behalf of the Department of Children, by lunchtime Thursday and move to a new site in Kilkenny.
The move has caused widespread upset in the community, who had just settled in the area.
Yuliia Kupets, who fled Kyiv with her husband Dmytro and children Andrii, nine, who suffers from Down Syndrome, and Martin, five, said they had just begun to feel a part of the local community and were now being told to move.
She told the Irish Sun: "We left our home on February 24 when Russia invaded. and made our way to the Polish border.
READ MORE ON UKRAINE WAR
"We just had to pick up our things and go. It was a very scary time because air raid sirens wee constantly going off and we could hear rockets and bombs.
"My husband was able to come with us because we have a child with special needs.
"We arrived in Ireland on March 14 and we eventually got this temporary accommodation, which we were told we had until the middle of October.
"My husband has found work as a bike mechanic and we have had so much wonderful support from the local community.
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"Because Andrii needs special care it has taken us a while to settle but he gets such great care and we are very settled now. We don't want to move anywhere.
"The children will have to move school now and we can't go through it all again. If we had some more time it would be better but we were told this yesterday and we have to move out tomorrow.
"This is very stressful. We are now so settled and love being a part of a community here and we all want to work. How can they let this happen."
Olena Justus also fled Kyiv last February and eventually escaped to Ireland with her husband Emmanuel and three daughters Elizabeth, 12, Maria, 10, and Suzanna, six.
They were joined in Laois in May by her elderly parents, Viktor, and Ludmilla.
DIFFICULT TO LEAVE UKRAINE
Her father has just had an operation and suffers from mobility issues and dementia.
Olena said: "It was very hard to get my parents to leave Ukraine because they come from a small town and refused to leave for a long time but eventually we persuaded them.
"My father is only just out of hospital and is barely able to walk. I have just started a new job as a customer services advisor in the Bank of Ireland, my husband is working as a translator.
"The children are settled in a school. In fact they have brought in seven Ukrainian teachers to the local school to help but now what will happen if we all have to move?
"They will provide transport for us to Kilkenny but how will I get to my new job in Portlaoise every day? The new place is supposed to be in something like a holiday village but there is no shops nearby
"It would be better if we had more time but we don't. Two days they told us and we have to move? This is very upsetting.
UPSET MANY PEOPLE
"The people have been great and we have so much support. This will upset a great many people who have all been through so much in the past number of months."
The development they have been asked to vacate is own by the Didean housing agency in Laois. It includes 15 units, which is currently housing over 80 people.
The Laois Integration Network a community organisation which has worked with Ukrainian refugees in Laois since their arrival in February have expressed horror and shock that they've been asked to move at such short notice.
Chairperson Karen McHugh said: "We are very concerned about the families being given such short notice, especially during school term.
"Furthermore, some of the parents are working locally. We understand that the Dídean accommodation was only temporary, but how can it be right that families are given just over one days’ notice?
FAMILIES UPROOTED
"A lot of these families that are in these houses are mothers with newborn babies, some with special needs and other families with medical needs.
"We in LIN appeal to our local politicians and to Laois County Council to ensure that this does not happen.. We also appeal to Dídean housing agency to insist that their contracts are extended with immediate effect."
In a statement to the Irish Sun, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said: "The people referred to were placed temporarily in accommodation that was successful in a tender process for international protection accommodation.
"In view of the severe shortage of accommodation for international protection applicants, it is necessary for any Beneficiary of Temporary Protection to be moved to alternative accommodation if temporarily accommodated in international protection accommodation which is now needed for international protection applicants.
"Such moves take place only where necessary. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth is now working with our implementing partners and accommodation providers to make this move as easy as possible for those affected."
