She visited refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. “They lost everything that generations had worked for”

Over 100,000 people from Nagorno-Karabakh were forced to flee their homes overnight. Currently, they are looking for help in refugee homes located in schools, sports halls and boarding schools. Emma Kiworkowa, Armenian by origin, doctor of medical sciences, dentist, orthodontist, president of the Julia’s Squirrels foundation, visited the site of this tragedy last month.

Natalia Kondratiuk-Świerubska, Kobiet.gazeta.pl: Last month, you visited the places where refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh currently live. I have the impression that few people remember about this problem.

Emma Kiworkowa, doctor of medical sciences, dentist, orthodontist: I was born in the Caucasus, where my ancestors lived. This is an extremely important topic for me. Today, Armenia is in a very difficult situation, not only economically, but above all geopolitically. Once there, I was struck by the helplessness, misery and tragedy of people who, day by day, hour by hour, had to leave their homes, end their lives, close the doors to the world they knew and in which they felt safe. It’s terrifying how history comes full circle. After all, in the first decade of the 20th century, the Armenian exodus was in full swing. These events went down in history as Genocide, almost 2 million people lost their lives. This is one of the greatest ethnic cleansings of modern times. Today, although we are not dealing with literal mass murders, today we are dealing with an attack on the identity, dignity and right to life of thousands of people. The current world order favors such a situation, as most of us have their eyes turned towards Ukraine and Gaza. And that’s good, because we need to loudly oppose the brutality and tragedy of war. This is pure evil in every form. However, I care even more that the tragedy of my nation that is happening here and now does not go unnoticed. These people need help and a chance for a better life.

What did you see there?

Despair, lack of prospects, omnipresent poverty. As I mentioned earlier, these people were left with nothing, they lost everything that generations had worked for, they are shocked, helpless and resigned. They feel left alone and abandoned. In this place, they need everything: shoes, jackets, hygiene products, but above all, what they need most is hope, interest and attention from the Western world. I think that when choosing new gifts and finishing the Christmas Eve menu, it is worth considering their fate for a moment. Because, as we know, this one can be perverse. I believe in us, Poles, I believe in our empathy and sense of justice that we have carried within us for generations. We share similar experiences and past trauma.

What buildings do refugees live in?

First of all, it’s hard to call it an “apartment”, I would rather say it’s about survival. These are abandoned buildings, often without toilets, access to water or heating. These are the conditions in which families with small children camp. Some babies were born during the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh.

I met a family of eight people who had one fold-out sofa bed and one mattress. And everyone has to fit into a small room. Gymnasiums in schools have also been made available, where a dozen or so families can stay at the same time. These are definitely not civilized conditions.

Can they count on any support?

It is for this purpose that we have launched the above collection, thanks to which we want to provide the help that is now needed. The first shipment of winter clothing was also sent this month, because warm clothes are the basis for survival in the next few months. However, this is a drop in the ocean of needs. That’s why every help is important.

Thank you very much for the interview! And I hope that your campaign will reach as many people as possible!