Tareq Alaows couldn’t resist. Staying at home, arms crossed, as war broke out in Ukraine was impossible for him. With the organization “Leave no one behind”, this Syrian lawyer, originally from Damascus and who arrived in Germany in 2015, went on March 6 to the border of Ukraine and Poland to help refugees.
“We left with a bus and two vans packed with donations. On the spot, we found two additional buses and brought back 200 people, in these five vehicles. Our goal was to help people who suffer from racism or discrimination such as LGBT people, disabled people or people from third countries. We found that no one wanted to take them with them. We brought them to safety”says Tareq Alaows. “Solidarity is very strong at the moment, but we see that it forgets some”, he regrets.
“I immediately thought of Aleppo”
For this 33-year-old Syrian, who himself fled the war and the Russian bombardments in his country, the war in Ukraine awakens painful memories: “On February 24, when I woke up and learned of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I immediately thought of Aleppo, the city where I studied. I remembered that the Russians were not only targeting military sites but also civilians and I said to myself: the international community has failed again. She could not stop this new war. This is what motivates me today to help Ukrainians. »
→ TO ANALYSE. Ukraine: concern grows over the fate of orphans
Within the Syrian community in Germany, over 800,000 strong and by far the largest in Europe, “solidarity is very great”, as Ibrahim Elsaydi observes. “We experienced what Ukrainians experience: flight, travel, leaving everything behind. People want to help in turn”says the president of the Salam association.
Since February 24, this organization founded in Berlin in 2015 to help Syrian refugees has thrown itself headlong into helping Ukrainians, through the collection of donations and more administrative support. “We have three volunteers who speak Russian. The others manage in English, he says.
“We help refugees find accommodation, submit administrative applications, register with the employment agency, open a bank account, obtain authorization to study. Ukrainians have facilities in terms of residence status compared to Syrians but they have similar needs. We can help them because we have accumulated experience,” constate Ibrahim Elsaydi.
“The question of differences in treatment is real”
Behind this emergency aid, however, criticism is mounting within the community. Some note tensions in the reception centers between the refugees who have been living there for several months, even years, and who suddenly have to make way for new arrivals. What about the administrative facilities provided to Ukrainians?
“These questions are important, recognizes Tareq Alaws. I am ashamed that Europe has closed itself to refugees crossing the Belarusian border this winter. The question of differences in treatment is real and will have to be raised by the political class and civil society. But now is not the time. For now, we have to help. It is absolutely urgent. »