Nigerians Stuck in Ukraine Plead for a Helping Hand

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. As of recent, there is now a total of 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees displaced due to the invasion. Citizens from across the globe are extending their support for Ukraine and its refugees. Countries surrounding Ukraine’s border are offering asylum for up to three years for Ukrainian citizens. 

The world has come together in unwavering support unlike ever before. It is an empowering moment of unity during a time of utter devastation. 

Really though, Switzerland broke its neutrality for the first time in 200 years. Rightfully so as obviously there is a lot at stake here with Russia’s nuclear threats and the clear disregard for civilian life.

After deep reflection, this makes one question, however. Why is the same support not being extended to refugees from Syria and Afghanistan or Yemen? 929,000 people have died due to ongoing violence and wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan. Yet why have refugees from these countries have received far less aid than Ukraine? 

The reality is that many Ukrainian refugees are upper-middle-class European citizens and as CBS senior foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata said, “This isn’t a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, that has seen conflict raging for decades. This is a relatively civilized, relatively European — I have to choose those words carefully, too — city, where you wouldn’t expect that or hope that it’s going to happen.” 

This was one of many comments made by reporters across the country who referenced what is happening in Ukraine is so devastating and shocking because it’s Europe, not a “developing” country. 

Not only is this racially motivated juxtaposition of support and sympathy evident between countries it’s also evident within Ukraine currently. Groups of Nigerians residing in Ukraine are being left to fend for themselves and facing serious discrimination while trying to evacuate the country. Aljazeera reported, “The African Union (AU) says it is “disturbed” by reports that African nationals in Ukraine are been prevented from safely crossing the border to flee the raging conflict in the country.”

Many of the Nigerians in Ukraine are students who came to study abroad just like us here at Elon and now are stuck trying to flee from the heart of the war near, Kyiv, the nation’s capital. Precious Ogunbayo 21-year-old medical student stuck in Sumy said, “We are really demoralized, everybody wants to go home, we keep asking for help, but it’s not coming at all.”

Another student Ronald Mangu Achu said, “We understand that they need to save their citizens but we have been loyal to Ukraine. We have been in their country lawfully. We have showed them love. I believe the least they could do is evacuate us.”

As everyone afflicted by the war attempts to persevere through this unwarranted attack on Ukraine and humankind we must acknowledge and condemn this seemingly imposed social hierarchy of human life. 

There is never a better time than now when we see everyone coming together in solitary and extending a helping hand to seek justice for Ukraine and for all. To reach out and succor those who have been left with no hand to hold of their own. 

Photo by Unsplash.