Fleeing with disabilities | Ukraine - Romania
Orphans, disabled, minors and autistics are some of the most vulnerable categories who have been fleeing Ukraine since the Russian attack started to spread in February 2022. Disabled orphans are accompanied by their tutors or social educators, who are also mothers, sometimes traveling with their own kids too, sometimes forced to leave them behind, along with the rest of the family.
Fleeing with limited mobility, autism, blindness and other disabilities requires a more specific evacuation plan, and adaptation to different and temporary environments is a continuous challenge for these categories. Differently from other refugees, disabled depend on facilities, expert support and treatments. The return to Ukraine is uncertain, social educators are tired and miss their families more than ever. No one knows when it will be safe for them to go back, but bureaucracy, logistics and legal procedures will probably be slow and complicated.
