Africa-Press – Mozambique. Citizens of Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOPs) in Ukraine are witnessing unprecedented scenes of panic and chaos. Their urgent wish is to get out of Ukraine “as soon as possible”.
When he got up on Thursday morning, Angolan student Manuel de Assunção did not recognise the city of Dnipro, where he has lived for seven years.
“The city woke up in a panic. In the morning, at around four o’clock, we heard explosions and gunfire in strategic areas on the outskirts of Dnipro, in the Donbass region,” Assunção told DW Africa.
Read: African students in Ukraine and Russia
The architecture student lives very close to the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, the scene of the first Russian attacks. Authorities were urging people to avoid crowds, but everyone wants to get to safety, he says.
“Everyone left, with their bags and belongings already prepared for whatever might happen. They think that together, they are stronger facing the Russians than if they stay at home,” said Assuncao, who is also president of the Angolan Students’ Association in Dnipro.
Student evacuation
It is estimated that more than 150 {Angolan[ students are eager to leave Ukraine “as soon as possible”. More than 130 have signed a list saying they wish to be evacuated to Poland.
“The possibility of us being evacuated is being worked on. And we are waiting for news from the Angolan government. We want to leave as soon as possible, because Ukraine has now entered a 30-day state of emergency and everything is closed,” Assunção says.
In Vinnitsya, in southwest Ukraine, near Poland, Julieta Mambo Savikeia heard neither gunshots nor explosions, but she also saw unprecedented chaos in the city.
“The city is agitated. There is panic in the streets. The supermarkets are completely full,” the Angolan doctor, who has lived in Ukraine for ten years, told DW Africa. It seems that “the situation is out of control”.
Escape to Poland
Despite being ready to flee, Julieta Mambo Savikeia is unable to get money or but provisions in the supermarket.
“Visa cards are no longer working,” she explains. “The ATMs are deluged. Things are very complicated.”
Savikeia asks the authorities of Portuguese-speaking African countries for help facilitating the evacuation of foreigners, before the situation gets worse.
“We are scared and panicked. We are very worried and terrified. We are doing our best to get out, but things are not easy, because transport is chaotic,” she said.
Government contacts
Little is known about the São Toméans, Cape Verdeans and Mozambicans currently in Ukraine.
Mozambique’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs promised to issue a statement on the subject to DW Africa on Friday (25-02).
Citizens of Guinea-Bissau have already been contacted by the authorities in the capital, Secretary of State for Communities, Salomé dos Santos Allouche, told DW Africa.
“The government is following the situation with great concern. We are in contact with our citizens, who are reporting the distressing situation they are experiencing,” said Salomé dos Santos, adding that four Guinean citizens living in Ukraine had been identified.
“We are asking for documentation, because we are considering future evacuation measures,” she explained.
If evacuation is necessary, Guinea-Bissau intends to request support from the embassies in Ukraine of the countries with which it has signed the Consular Protection Agreement – Portugal, Brazil and Nigeria.
In a statement, the Government of Cape Verde made it known that it is monitoring the situation with concern and that it condemns the use of force. The government of Ulisses Correia e Silva advocates respect for values and international law, calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow a diplomatic exit.
Source: Deutsche Welle
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