BUDAPEST – British Prince Charles traveled to the Romanian capital on Wednesday to visit refugees, mostly women and children, from Russia’s war in Ukraine who have found safety in a neighboring Eastern European country.
The Prince of Wales visited the Romexpo Donation Center for Ukrainian Refugees in Bucharest. There, he met with some of the nearly 1 million Ukrainians who have reached Romania since the start of the war on February 24, and watched as the government and volunteers organize aid.
Speaking to a group of Ukrainians through an interpreter, Charles apologized for his lack of language skills, saying, “I wish my Ukrainian was better.”
“We are very worried about you, it is a nightmare situation,” he said. “I am full of admiration for the Ukrainian people. Complete, extraordinary courage and perseverance. “
During the visit, Charles received a gift from some Ukrainian children in the center: wooden spoons painted with traditional Ukrainian patterns.
Advertising
“Fine, thank you, thank you,” Charles said to one of the children. “I like the way you drew it.”
Charles was joined by representatives of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as the mayor of Bucharest and members of other state aid services.
More than 1,000 Ukrainians visit the donation center daily to receive free food such as food, hygiene products, clothing and footwear, according to the heads of the institution. Refugees also have access to social services and a lawyer while they remain in Romania.
The visit was the last in a series of Charles’ meetings with Ukrainian refugees in recent weeks. According to the British Embassy in Bucharest, last week he visited the Ukrainian community in Ottawa, Canada, where he met with a family displaced by the war.
More than 972,000 Ukrainians have fled to Romania since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the UN refugee agency.
Advertising
___
Follow the coverage of the war in Ukraine in the AP at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed without permission.