ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -
A 16-year-old Ukrainian boy who left behind his household is among the many 166 refugees anticipated to land in St. John's, N.L., Monday night aboard a aircraft chartered by the provincial authorities.
The flight left Poland round midday, Newfoundland time, provincial Immigration Minister Gerry Byrne mentioned in an interview Monday. It's a part of an effort led by the provincial authorities and buoyed by a community of unaffiliated volunteers working to carry Ukrainians to Canada's easternmost province and guarantee they're housed and cared for.
"Not solely is it our responsibility as world residents in a world neighborhood, however we even have one thing to supply, which we hope others in not solely Canada however throughout North America will emulate," Byrne mentioned. "Time for motion is now."
The province opened a satellite tv for pc workplace in Warsaw, Poland, in March to assist Ukrainians fleeing Russian assaults resettle in Newfoundland and Labrador. The individuals working there have been handing out flyers, assembly with Ukrainians and serving to them get paperwork so as. They chartered two buses to hold the 166 passengers on Monday's flight from Warsaw to the airport in Katowice, which is about 300 kilometres away.
Byrne mentioned the aircraft arriving Monday is the primary government-chartered flight to carry Ukrainian refugees to Canada.
The 16-year-old boy on board -- whose identify The Canadian Press has agreed to not publish as a way to defend his household -- will likely be staying with Kelly Energy, who labored along with his sister at a pharmacy 4 years in the past. They acquired alongside and stayed associates, even after the sister moved away, Energy mentioned in an interview Friday.
It was lower than a month after Russia invaded Ukraine that her pal despatched her a message on social media, asking if she'd care for the teenager if he may make it from Ukraine to Newfoundland.
Energy, 52, mentioned she did not suppose twice about agreeing to welcome the boy into her dwelling.
"If I mentioned no, he would not have wherever to go," she mentioned in a latest interview. "I used to be his means out."
Energy was emotional as she spoke in regards to the teenager and all of the issues he'll want: garments, bedding, assist along with his English, associates.
She mentioned his sister labored laborious with the crew on the Newfoundland and Labrador workplace in Warsaw to get him a visa, a passport and a means out of Ukraine to make the flight.
The journey to St. John's will likely be tough, Energy mentioned: he is leaving his mother and father behind, in addition to his canine. He is by no means been on a aircraft, and he solely simply turned 16.
Adilya Dragan has been working laborious to verify the individuals on the aircraft have what they want after they arrive. The 32-year-old from Russia lives simply exterior St. John's, and she or he moderates a Fb group devoted to sending drugs and provides from Newfoundland to Ukraine.
Now, the group can be devoted to serving to the refugees who will arrive on Monday's flight.
Dragan mentioned she receives dozens of Fb messages each hour from Ukrainians and people seeking to assist them. She's constructed a spreadsheet monitoring the Ukrainians who've contacted her to say they're on Monday's flight, and matching them with volunteers providing furnishings, garments or a spot to stay. A number of rooms of her dwelling are overrun with piles of donated provides, and she or he's organized public drop-off websites the place extra stuff awaits.
Dragan and her crew of volunteers are placing collectively containers of garments, footwear, meals, toiletries, dishes and dish cleaning soap, and so they'll be on the airport Monday with a personalized package deal for everybody on her listing, and different gadgets for everybody else on the aircraft.
"We'll have a billboard and a few brochures," she mentioned. "And as soon as the individuals come out, we will likely be greeting them in Ukrainian and handing them out data to allow them to attain out to us and inform us what they want."
Dragan mentioned she's been overwhelmed with individuals in St. John's providing assist, although extra volunteers, provides and donations are at all times wanted.
"Persons are nice right here," she mentioned. "I really like Newfoundlanders; they're the best individuals. You can't discover these individuals wherever else on this planet."
The mom of three has her personal full-time job, and she or he mentioned all of the work sending help to Ukraine -- 4,000 kilos and counting -- and prepping for the refugees' arrival has grow to be a second full-time job.
"My husband, he has household in Ukraine, and my finest pal is Ukrainian," Dragan defined. "I simply wish to assist."
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Could 9, 2022.
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