A gesture of solidarity that turns into an ordeal. If in the majority of cases the cohabitation goes well, Riviera families who have been welcoming Ukrainians for more than two months are cracking up. “It’s a minority but it exists”explains Hélène Granouillac president of the environmental group at the town hall of Nice, invested in the reception of refugees.
The words of these Azureans remain difficult to collect because few agree to testify. They often experience this situation as a failure, those who wanted to help but find themselves in difficulty financial and psychological. A woman, resident of the Alpes-Maritimes agrees to speak and we guarantee her anonymity to broadcast her interview. In two months, she welcomed five Ukrainians. Three are still at her home, in her house.
Why are you speaking today?
I express myself because I find that we are alone, that we are left to ourselves. We feel guilty because it was our personal decision to welcome them, but after a while we can no longer manage financially and psychologically.
It was we who helped the state and not the other way around
After two months of living together, how do you feel?
I’m exhausted. I can not do it anymore. Coming home from work I find my kitchen dirty, chicken carcasses not cleared, lights always on and even an empty yogurt pot in clothes. They are shameless, believe they are at home and that we are the guests. To decompress I take refuge in my room, or in the dark on my terrace.
Financially too, I am in the red. Our budget for food has exploded by almost 2000 euros in one month. It’s impossible ! Not to mention the electricity. I don’t even dare call EDF to find out my bill.
Did you ask for help?
At first no, I didn’t dare. But two weeks ago I asked for a meeting with the town hall of my village. I met the person in charge of solidarity and even the mayor. Since then, I haven’t had any news.
What is the solution for you?
state aid, financial aid. It’s not normal for Ukrainians to receive money and not the French families who host them. And then we have to stop blaming ourselves and making ourselves responsible. On the other hand, I will never kick these people out. The problem is that if they decide to go back to Ukraine, and something happens to them, I will never forgive myself. It’s a dilemma.