written by: Shannon Ashton, LHI Board Member
Shannon Ashton has been on the ground in Moldova with LHI senior admin team members Hayley Smith and Jaron Malyon as they establish LHI’s immediate response to the Ukraine refugee crisis.
Shannon, a professional photographer, has photographed LHI's projects and initiatives in 5 different countries since 2015. Many of LHI's most iconic photos were taken by her.
This is Anna who arrived yesterday in Moldova on a bus from Odessa, Ukraine. Early in the dark hours of the morning of February 24th, a "rocket bomb" was dropped on the Odessa airport 7 kilometers from where she lives. Her apartment shook with force, and even though it was dark outside the sky lit up as if it were the sun. They spent three days in a bomb shelter where they couldn't wash or do anything. After a few days she took her son and left Ukraine for Moldova. She didn't want to leave, and had to leave her mother and ailing grandmother behind. They all told her to get out while she could even though they could not. She packed her son's things, enough to last through summer. She currently waits in a shelter in Chisinau hoping to get on a bus to somewhere. Maybe Poland? Spain? She isn't quite sure.
"Please share this with all the people who don't believe what is happening here is true."
Her child playing in the background as we spoke, I began to feel such incredible sadness over the upheaval of their lives, having to flee for fear of imminent death. And being forced to leave loved ones behind never knowing if they'll see each other ever again. These lives, lacerated. And the millions of others whose lives are likewise being torn apart by this barbaric war in Ukraine. I am angry at the evil that is causing this.
We met so many others just like her, and right now thousands more are pouring across various borders out of Ukraine throughout Europe. I have been a witness to many refugees all over the world over the years, and I can say in absolute that this could be any one of us. And that fact alone requires that I do my part to help.
Click here to learn more and support LHI’s work for Ukrainian refugees.
Hayley (L) and Shannon (R) in Moldova.