Ukrainian refugees enjoy “a nice break” in the Roya Valley

These are rather special holidays in the Roya valley, in the Alpes-Maritimes. The region was devastated less than two years ago by the torrents of Storm Alex. For the second year in a row, the Secours Populaire is organizing holiday stays for beneficiaries in the hamlet of Casterino at the bottom of the valley. This year, several Ukrainian families are part of the trip. A way to offer great holidays to these people and to make work for the hoteliers of the hamlet, who are still suffering the consequences of the storm.

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In the middle of this little green paradise, the 20 residents of the popular rescue are bustling around a table for a wood creation workshop. Five Ukrainian families are there, including Tatiana and her daughter, who arrived in France in 2015. She is building a small house with her daughter.

A good part of their family is still in Ukraine so these holidays, the first for them in France, allow them to breathe: “I can’t forget, I have my phone next to me, I watch the news all the time. But it’s true that I rested a bit, it’s like a dream.” Stars also in the eyes of Natalia, 64, who fled the kyiv region a month ago to join her daughter and her two grandchildren with whom she is participating in the stay. “We try to forget what is happening there but it is very difficultrecount Natalia. We often get calls, I was with my husband an hour ago.”

“It’s very beautiful here, these holidays do a lot of good for the children’s mental health and for mine. We breathe the pure mountain air.”

Natalia, Ukrainian refugee

at franceinfo

A parenthesis for these families and a boost for the hoteliers of the hamlet. “Since the passage of the storm Alex, the Secours populaire has come to the aid of many inhabitants of the valleyexplains Stéphane Chenevas-Paule, administrative director of Secours populaire for the Alpes-Maritimes. And then, it’s an exchange that is made by allowing families to come and stay on Castérino. It’s a nice parenthesis.”

Families are welcomed in the three hotels in Casterino, there are three one-week stays this summer. A welcome activity as the main road to access it is still cut off. “In 2021, it was very complicated, the hoteliers averaged – 80 to – 85%explains Karine Rigaut is the manager of the Val Casterino hotel. It makes us work because the contract with the popular relief is remunerated. It allows people to come and it gives us a little boost and puts our foot back in the stirrup.” With hope for next season: the access road should normally reopen by the end of 2022.