War in Ukraine: nearly a year after the start of the conflict, refugees are adjusting to their new lives in France

Published

Video length: 6 mins.

FRANCE 2

Article written by

J.Poissonnier, O.Labalette, L.Hauville, J.Cordier – France 2

France Televisions

The 13 Hours of Thursday February 16 returns to these families who fled the war to come and settle in France. This is the case of Oksanna and her two little girls aged 10 and 12 who settled in a commune in the Rhône where they found a taste for life again.

In a village south of Lyon (Rhône), there are no sirens, no bombs. Far from the war, for nearly a year, the village has been welcoming Ukrainian refugees. Markiian Zvir17, lives in a foster family for the better and for the laughter. On March 3, 2022, a week after the start of the war, Markiian Zvir had arrived in France by bus and had been welcomed by volunteers. He came from Lviv (Ukraine), alone, without his parents. Today, he considers the mother of his foster family as his second mother. But deep down, he really wants to go home.

More than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in France

The village quickly got used to these new inhabitants. “We made them very welcome”says a resident. Sometimes they are even hired by companies in the region. Oksanna, a former music teacher, was hired by a company that produces dumplings. Thanks to her salary, 1500 euros per month, she will be able to leave her host family to move in with her two daughters. More than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees live in France today.


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