Ukrainian children in Türkiye trying to heal scars left by war

By Ozgun Tiran

KIRKLARELI, Türkiye (AA) - The Ukrainian children, who along with their parents fled the war in their country and took refuge in Türkiye, are trying to heal the scars left by the war.

Authorities in the northwestern Kirklareli province offer many opportunities to children of Crimean Tatars and Ahiska Turks living in the dormitory, such as a play area and movie theater, a cafeteria, and an internet room.

Officials of the migration management directorate in Kirklareli spent most of their time during the day with 158 children, who have suffered from the war. They play games such as chess, football, sack race and tug-of-war among other games.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, 13-year-old Mevlut Safarov, who is an Ahiska Turk, said: "I miss my country, I want to go back as soon as possible. There are my close friends, my grandmother, and I miss them."

Safarov said that children were particularly affected by the war, and he was very scared when soldiers came to their homes in their villages.

"I am very happy that we came to Türkiye. Everything is fine here, we are playing games with friends. I have a great time, we play matches, we play basketball and volleyball," he added.

Twelve-year-old Efsel Agaliev told Anadolu Agency that the war left a terrible mark on him.

Noting that Agaliev misses his friends and school in Ukraine, Agaliev said: “We used to play with our friends there ... We came here because of the war. I want to be a cop when I grow up. If I become a cop, I will protect people.”

Milana Seferova, a 10-year-old girl, said that she was very scared when rockets passed over her houses in Ukraine.

"We are safe here. I would like to thank Türkiye very much. I am very happy here, but when the war is over, I would like to go back to my school and play with my friends. I want to live happily with my family as before," Seferova said.

At least 243 children have died as a result of Russian attacks, while another 446 children were wounded by Russian forces, the Ukrainian Chief Prosecutor’s Office said last week.

According to UN estimates, at least 4,183 civilians have been killed and 5,014 injured in Ukraine since the start of war, with the true toll believed to be much higher.