Portumna Community Come Together to Raise Funds for Irish Emergency Alliance – Ukraine Humanitarian Relief

The wheels of trolley suitcases make a clack clack clack sound as they roll across the uneven pavements. The sound has become a soundtrack to the picturesque mountain village of Vysne Nemeche on Slovakia’s far eastern border.

The daily procession of refugees coming here from Ukraine is relentless. 10,000 are crossing each day – mothers, grandmothers and children mostly – taking flight from the escalating conflict, and seeking sanctuary in this easternmost outpost of the European Union.

The exodus from Ukraine to bordering countries happens in cars, buses, trucks and on foot. It’s a journey that over 3 million Ukrainian’s have taken since war began.

The women and children that I saw were arriving exhausted, emotionally drained, and had that look of bewilderment at the strange and awful turn that life had taken.

Tatiana, aged in her early 20’s drags her suitcase behind her, in her other arm she is carrying a cat that she has brought with her from her home in Ternopil.

People often wait up to two days at the border, with outside temperatures dropping well below zero at night sometimes as low as minus -10.