As the refugee coordinator at C.A.T.T.I.A., a reception center for refugees in Brasov, Romania, Andreea Vrinceanu spends her days assisting newly arrived refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
C.A.T.T.I.A. is also a Blue Dot hub, one of a network of refugee support centers set up by UNICEF and UNHCR, along with local authorities and partners, along key transit routes in neighboring countries to help children and families in need.
The center provides refugees who have left everything behind with temporary lodging, meals, travel information and other services, including a cheerful playroom for children, outfitted with colorful child-size furniture, toys and art supplies.
“Most of the time we are inclined to [think] that the children’s experience is not [as] impactful as the adults, because they don’t see reality with the same eyes as we see,” she says. “But actually, they are the ones most hurt by these kinds of changes. They are actually suffering deep down inside.”
An oasis for children in flight: a little bit like home
Vrinceanu describes the joy and relief the refugee children experience as they explore the play area and realize they are in a safe and welcoming space. “That is where the magic happens, because all the kids start to know each other and start to play one with the other,” she said. “The change is striking. It’s happening … only because they have access to a place and a community that makes them feel a little bit like home. Children speaking the same language and a safe space where they can play, that makes a very, very big difference.”
As of April 28, 2022, more than 5.4 million people had left Ukraine, crossing the border into Poland, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and other neighboring countries in search of safety. UNICEF is scaling up its humanitarian response to meet the urgent needs of children and families as the brutal war continues.
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