Roman Rác, Dušan Kotlár, Petr Goral and Jana Pavlíková have gone to aid refugees on the Slovak-Ukrainian border

The STA Bruntálsko news server reported yesterday that local residents Roman Rác, Dušan Kotlár, Petr Goral and Jana Pavlíková of Krnov, Czech Republic have set out for the Slovak-Ukrainian border near the city of Uzhhorod. The small group of young natives of Krnov traveled more than 1 200 km in 20 hours with small breaks.

The group brought items needed for the refugees fleeing Ukraine because of the war. They bought what was necessary ahead of the trip. 

“We purchased pâtés, canned beans, personal hygiene supplies, sliced bread, sweets and other things,” Kotlár described the charitable action to the news server. “We went there to help people.”

“We had no idea what the reality would be like,” Kotlár went on to say. “We saw hundreds of Ukrainians at the border, waiting to get into Slovakia, where tents are already set up with food and personal hygiene supplies.”

“It was quite difficult for us, emotionally,” Kotlár added. Romani community members in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia are joining aid drives for the refugees from Ukraine, as news server Romea.cz previously reported.      

Material collections for refugees are being organized in the Czech Republic, for example, by the Romani residents of the Chanov housing estate, the Khamoro organization in Chodov, the Roma luma political party, and Romani residents of České Budějovice. Romani organizations in Slovakia are aiding with the transport of refugees from the border with Ukraine and their accommodation.