Photos: Twitter
As war rages on in Ukraine after the invasion by Russia many hearbreaking and worrying stories are filtering out. One is regarding the treatment of African students who find themselves trapped in the country–not jut by the war but by racism.
Tales are now trickling out about the abuse these African students (many of whom also feel abandoned by their respective African governments) face.
“Everyone is under pressure — there have been explosions in different cities, including my city, Kyiv,” 23-year-old Nigerian student Sarah Ajifa Idachaba, who is studying medicine in the Ukrainian capital along with her older sister, told DW. “Me and my sister are in panic because we don’t know what to expect. We are not safe and we are not sure about leaving here because the airport is shut down. We are citizens of Nigeria, and we need help. Please don’t neglect us, don’t leave us alone.”
Another Nigeria medical student, Temi Rosabel Tseye-Okotie, had this to say: “Honestly? We are scared — we don’t know what to do. The information we are getting from Nigeria is basically that we are on our own.”
Liberian medical student, Augustine Akoi Kollie, in a social media post said: “We are very worried about our safety and will like to ask for assistance as regards evacuation from Ukraine to a safer place until the situation here in Ukraine is calm. Please help us.”
African students are complaining about being refused passage on buses and trains, or being forced to wait until everyone who is white is allowed on first. The stories of these injustices are being told through social media postings.
One poster, Nze @Nzekiev, showed Africans being threatened by police and military with guns. He posted this: “They actually wanted to crush us with their bus, and even pointed guns at us while we were shouting ‘we are students, allow us to cross’ because we didn’t allow them to cross their people first before us. We forced our way in, and they gave up. I have these on video record.”
Nze also posted a video saying: “Watch how they are threatening to shoot us! We are currently at the Ukraine -Poland border. Their Police and Army refused to let Africans cross they only allow Ukrainian. Some have slept here for 2 days under this scorching cold weather, while many have gone back to Lviv.”
Another social media poster, @nzekiev said this: “to learn in real time how #AfricansinUkraine are being treated. It is not incidental. There is no democracy and freedom where there is racial hierarchy. Period.”
Dr Ayoade Alakija, Special Envoy, ACT WHO, said Africans are clearly facing horrible racism in Ukraine.
In a tweet she said: “Black Africans are being treated with racism and contempt in Ukraine & Poland. West cannot ask African nations to stand in solidarity with them if they cannot display basic respect for us even in a time of war. Ignored in a pandemic and left to die in war?!! UNACCEPTABLE.”
