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1 | The Refugees Stopping at Vienna's Train Station of Hope | Fiatoan'ireo Mpitsoa-ponenana Tao Amin'ny Fiantsonan'ny Fiarandalambin'ny Fanantenana Ao Vienne. |
2 | Photo by Arzu Geybulla. | Sary an'i Arzu Geybulla. |
3 | Wien Hauptbahnhof, Vienna's main train station. | Wien Hauptbahnhof, fiantsonan-dalamby foibe ao Vienne. |
4 | It is September, two months before the deadly violence from which many refugees are fleeing would touch Beirut and Paris. | Volana Septambra, roa volana talohan'ny hahatongavan'ireo mpitsoa-ponenana maro nandositra mba ho any Beirota sy Parisy. |
5 | It's been a quiet few days, especially since the arrival of over 5,000 refugees on September 14. | Nisy andro vitsivitsy somary nilamindamina, indrindra hatramin'ny nahatongavan'ireo mpitsoa-ponenana maherin'ny 5.000 ny 14 Septambra. |
6 | “This is nothing compared to what we had a few days ago,” a volunteer named George tells me. | “Tsy misy dikany izao raha oharina amin'izay nahazo anay andro vitsivitsy lasa izay,” hoy ny mpilatsaka antsitra-po iray antsoina hoe George, tamiko. |
7 | “There were tents everywhere! | “Feno tranolay teny rehetra teny! |
8 | There was nowhere to move. | Tsy nisy toerana azo nodiavina. |
9 | It was truly a very powerful sight,” says another volunteer. | Fahitàna tena henjana be tokoa,” hoy ny mpilatsaka antsitra-po iray hafa. |
10 | The lists tacked to the wall of the makeshift office space used by the volunteers show the approximate number of refugees who have arrived daily since September 1. It starts at 1,000 and peaks at 5,000-plus. | Manambara ny isa ara-keviny an'ireo mpitsoa-ponenana izay tonga isan'andro, nanomboka ny 1 Septambra, ny lisitra mifantsika amin'ny rindrin'ny birao vonjimaika nampiasain'ireo mpilatsaka antsitra-po. Nanomboka tamin'ny isa 1.000 izany ary nipàka hatrany amin'ny 5.000 mahery. |
11 | That evening I saw perhaps only a few hundred people at the station, together with the many volunteers. | Ny harivan'iny, angamba olona zato teo onja no hitako teo amin'ny fiantsonana, miaraka amin'ireo mpilatsaka antsitra-po. |
12 | It was quiet: people were getting their dinners while kids roamed around playing with donated toys. | Nangingina teo: nahazo ny anjara sakafony ireo olona raha toa kosa ireo ankizy nilalao teny amin'ny manodidina niaraka tamin'ireo kilalao natao fanomezana. |
13 | Some of the refugees were waiting for the next train, some in desperate hope that they would actually be able to find-or afford-the tickets when the time came. | Eo ampiandrasana ny fiarandalamby manaraka ireo mpitsoa-ponenana sasany, ny sasany manantena mafy fa mbola hahita - na mbola afaka hividy - tapakila rehefa tonga ny fotoana. |
14 | The train station management closes the main hall to the refugees at 10pm every day. | Akaton'ny mpiasan'ny gara tsy ho an'ireo mpitsoa-ponenana ny trano malalaka isaky ny amin'ny 10ora alina. |
15 | Only those with tickets for the first train leaving for Germany at 6am are allowed to spend the night at the station. | Ireo izay nahazo tapakila ho an'ny fiarandalamby voalohany ho any Alemàina amin'ny 6ora maraina irery ihany no afaka matory eo amin'ny fiantsonana. |
16 | Others depart for nearby shelters. | Ireo hafa kosa mandeha mamonjy fialofana eny amin'ireo toerana akaikikaiky. |
17 | One of these shelters is brand new, just few blocks from the train station. | Iray amin'ireny fialofana ireny no tena mbola vaovao, tangoron-trano vitsy monja avy eo amin'ny fiantsonan-dalamby. |
18 | It is an in-kind donation from a local bank, which has given over its entire ground floor for use as a shelter. | Fitaovana nomen'ny banky iray teo an-toerana io, izay nanome ny rihana ambany manontolo mba hampiasaina ho fialofana. |
19 | There are makeshift toilets and showers outside the main entrance. | Misy trano fivoahana sy fandroana vonjimaika eo ivelan'ny varavaram-be fidirana. |
20 | “You need permission from the media relations department of the bank,” they told me nicely at the door, when I tried to go in to film. | “Mila ny fahazoan-dàlana avy amin'ny departemantam-pifandraisan'ny banky ianareo”, hoy izy ireo niteny ampitiavana tamiko teo ambaravarana, raha nanandrana hiditra haka sary aho. |
21 | To avoid overcrowding the shelter takes only a limited number of people. | Mba tsy ho tototra be loatra, olona voafetra ihany no noraisin'ilay toerana fialofana. |
22 | But there are other places to go, and in some cases, local families invite refugees to spend a night or two at their homes. | Saingy mbola misy ireo toerana hafa azo aleha, ary amin'ireo tranga sasantsasany, manasa ireo mpitsoa-ponenana mba handany ny aliny indray mandeha na roa ao an-tranony ireo fianakaviana tao an-toerana. |
23 | Turkish volunteers at Vienna's central train station. | Ireo Tiorka mpilatsaka an-tsitrapo tao amin'ny fiantsonan-dalamby foibe ao Vienne. |
24 | PHOTO: Arzu Geybulla | SARY: Arzu Geybulla. |
25 | It wasn't this organized in the first days of the refugee influx into the country. | Tsy voalamina io ny andro voalohany nitobahan'ireo mpitsoa-ponenana tao amin'ny firenena. |
26 | In fact, Austria was heavily criticized in a New York Times article for the appalling conditions in refugee centers in border areas. | Ny tena izy, voatsikera mafy vokatry ny fomba mahatsiravina nandraisany ireo mpitsoa-ponenana tany amin'ny faritry ny sisintany ny Aotrisiana, tao anatin'ny lahatsoratra iray tao amin'ny New York Times. |
27 | One group in particular decided to take matters into their own hands. | Vondrona iray no tena nanapa-kevitra handray an-tànana ny raharaha. |
28 | Calling themselves the “Train of Hope” (#TrainOfHope), this network of hundreds of volunteers works in shifts at the main train station. | Antsoin'izy tenany hoe “Fiaradalambin'ny Fanantenana” (#TrainOfHope), miasa mifandimby ao amin'ny fiantsonan'ny fiarandalamby foibe ireo andiana mpilatsaka an-tsitrapo anjatony ireo. |
29 | Sometimes these shifts are more than 48 hours. | Matetika mihoatra ny 48ora ireo fifandimbiasana ireo. |
30 | “We make sure people get on the right trains when their trains arrive. | “Ataonay izay hahazoana antoka fa ho tafakatra ao anatin'ny fiarandalamby tokony ho azy ny olona rehefa tonga izany. |
31 | We also help the refugees to get on the buses to their temporary accommodations,” explains George. | Manampy ireo mpitsoa-ponenana ihany koa izahay amin'ny fiakaran'izy ireo anaty fiara fitaterana mitondra azy any amin'ireo fonenana vonjimaika,” hoy i George manazava. |
32 | They also make sure the refugees can trust the volunteers, especially after all they go through on their long and exhausting journey. | Ataon'izy ireo ihany koa izay hitokisan'ireo mpitsoa-ponenana ireo mpilatsaka an-tsitrapo, indrindra indrindra mandritra ny dia lavitra sy henjana ataon'izy ireny. |
33 | People arrive sick, injured, fatigued, so the volunteers try their best to accommodate and provide all the help they can. | Tsy salama ireo olona rehefa tonga, maratra, reraka, noho izany miezaka manome ny tsara avy amin'izy ireo ny mpilatsaka an-tsitrapo amin'ny fandraisana sady manome azy ireo izay fanampiana ilainy. |
34 | But at the train station it is more than just a group of young volunteers helping the refugees. | Saingy eo amin'ny gara, tsy resaka tanora mpilatsaka an-tsitr-po manampy ireo mpitsoa-ponenana fotsiny. |
35 | There's a legal aid desk, with lawyers providing advice on the asylum process and next steps; a makeshift hospital with doctors and nurses; food stalls where local residents bring in meals, fruits and snacks; a children's area; a missing persons desk; and tents set up outside of the train station with medical supplies, food and clothes. | Misy birao mikasika ny fanampiana ara-dalàna, ahitàna ireo mpisolovava manome torohevitra mikasika ny dingana arahana momba ny fialokalofana sy ny dingana manaraka; ny toeram-pitsaboana vonjimaika ahitana ireo mpitsabo sy mpitsabo mpanampy; ny talantàlana misy sakafo izay anateran'ireo mponina eo an-toerana ny sakafo, voankazo ary tsakitsaky; ny toerana ho an'ireo ankizikely, ny birao natokana ho an'ireo olona tsy hita; ary ireo tranolay natsangana tao ivelan'ny gara ahitana ireo fitaovam-pitsaboana, sakafo ary fitafiana. |
36 | There is a social media team as well, keeping the “Train Of Hope” Facebook page updated with information and letting people know about what's needed at the station. | Misy ekipanà media sosialy koa, mitantana ny pejy Facebook-n'ny “Train Of Hope” ho hifanaraka ny zava-misy, ahitana ny vaovao sady mamela ny olona hahalala momba izay ilain'ny ao amin'ilay fiantsonan'ny fiarandalamby. |
37 | Charging cell phones at Vienna's central train station. | Famahanana ireo finday tao amin'ny fiantsonan-dalamby foiben'i Viena. |
38 | PHOTO: Arzu Geybulla | SARY: Arzu Geybulla. |
39 | As I walked through the station I met a young Kurdish family. | Nifanena tamina fianakaviana Kiorda tanora iray aho raha nandalo teny amin'ny fiantsonana. |
40 | I could not take my eyes off the little boy, who was on the ground playing with colorful pens and toys his mom had given him. | Tsy niala teny amin'ilay zazalahy kely ny masoko, izay eo am-pilalaovana penina maro loko isankarazany sy ireo kilalao nomen'ny reniny azy. |
41 | He had big, smiling eyes. | Ngeza sady mitsiky ireo masony. |
42 | I approached him and said Hi to his mother. | Nanantona azy aho no sady niarahaba ny reniny. |
43 | She said they were on their way to Sweden. | An-dàlana ho any Suède ry zareo, hoy izy. |
44 | Her husband and their son and daughter were hoping to join relatives awaiting them there. | Ny vadiny sy ny zanany lahy ary ny zanany vavy dia samy manantena hihaona amin'ireo fianakaviana miandry azy ireo any. |
45 | The husband joined us, taking the little Ruzgar his mother and playing with him so his wife could talk to us. | Nanantona anay ilay rangahy, nandray an'ilay zazakely Ruzgar teny amin-dreniny sady nilalao azy, mba ho afaka niresaka taminay ny vadiny. |
46 | She spoke no English, but with the help of other refugees and volunteer translators she was able to tell me their story. | Tsy miteny Anglisy izy, saingy noho ny fanampian'ireo mpitsoa-ponenana hafa sy ireo mpilatsaka an-tsitrapo mpandika teny, afaka nanambara tamiko ny tantaran-dry zareo izy. |
47 | Their journey began in Kamishli in northeastern Syria, from where the four of them left for Turkey over a month before. | Nanomboka tany Kamishli any Syria avaratra atsinanana ny dian'izay ireo, izay nandaozan'ny efatra tamin'izy ireo, lasa any Torkia iray volana talohan'izao. |
48 | They first crossed the Syria-Turkey border on foot, paying 200 euros per person. | Namakivaky an-tongotra ny sisintanin'i Syria-Tiorkia aloha izy ireo, nandoa vola 200 euros isan'olona. |
49 | It took them one day to cross the border, and another to travel westwards across Turkey to Izmir. | Iray andro no lanin'izy ireo niampitàna ny sisintany, ary andro iray hafa nandehanana nianavaratra namakivaky an'i Tiorkia ho any Izmir. |
50 | They waited for two weeks in Izmir before they managed to find a place on boat to Greece. | Niandry nandritra ny roa herinandro tao Izmir ry zareo talohan'ny nahazoan'izy ireo toerana amin'ny sambo ho any Gresy. |
51 | For this they had to pay a considerable sum: the trip to Greece costs US$200 for a child and up to US$3,000 for an adult. | Tamin'io dia nila nandoa vola be ry zareo: 200 Dolara amerikàna ny saran-dàlana ho an'ny zaza iray mankany Gresy ary hatramin'ny 3.000 Dolara ho an'ny lehibe. |
52 | They waited for nine days in Greece. | Niandry sivy andro tao Gresy izy ireo. |
53 | “It was very difficult there,” she tells me. | “Tena sarotra tao,” hoy izy tamiko. |
54 | “We had to live on the streets, without any food or shelter. | “Tsy maintsy nipetraka teny an-dàlambe izahay, tsy nisy sakafo na fialofana. |
55 | The children were cold and scared. | Nangatsiaka sady natahotra ireo ankizy. |
56 | It was very difficult.” | Tena sarotra be.” |
57 | From Greece, they managed to get to Macedonia, then Serbia, then Hungary, and finally to Austria. | Avy ao Gresy, afaka nankany Makedonia ry zareo, avy eo Serbia, avy eo Hongria, ary farany tao Aotrisy. |
58 | Her husband's brother and sister live in Sweden, which the family was planning to reach by passing through Germany. | Monina ao Soeda ny rahalahim-badiny sy ny anabaviny, izay kasain'ny fianakaviana hivantànana amin'ny famakivakiana an'i Alemà. |
59 | They had hope. | Nanana fanantenana izy ireo. |
60 | Ever since I met them I have been thinking of this family. | Hatramin'ny nihaonako tamin-dry zareo ireo, nieritreritra io fianakaviana io aho. |
61 | Did they make it to Sweden? | Tonga any Soeda ve izy ireo? |
62 | Were they stranded in Germany? | Voasakana tao Alemàina ve izy ireo? |
63 | I want to hope that they made it, and even if they haven't, that they will soon be reunited with their family in Sweden. | Te hanantena aho hoe vitan'izy ireo ilay izy, ary raha toa tsy izany, mba hifanena tsy ho ela amin'ny fianakaviany any Soeda izy ireo. |
64 | Back at the train station, things were quieting down. | Ndeha hiverina ao amin'ny gara, somary nilamina kely ny zavatra rehetra. |
65 | The volunteers were sweeping the floors, volunteers in the makeshift kitchen were cleaning up and packing away the food. | Mamafa ny gorodona, manadio ny lakozia vonjimaika sady mandamina ireo sakafo ny mpilatsaka an-tsitrapo. |
66 | Most importantly, thanks to the volunteers and their incredible work, there was hope in the air. | Ny tena zava-dehibe indrindra, noho ireo mpilatsaka an-tsitrapo sy ny asa tsy nampino nataon'izy ireo, nisy rivotry ny fanantenana teny ho eny. |
67 | See a video version of this post on YouTube. | Jereo ao amin'ny YouTube ity lahatsoratra ity amin'ny endriny lahatsary. |
68 | Volunteer-run food service table at Vienna's central train station. | Latabatra fikarakarana sakafo niandraiketan'ireo mpilatsaka an-tsitrapo tao amin'ny fiantsonan-dalamby foiben'i Vienne. |
69 | PHOTO: Arzu Geybulla | SARY: Arzu Geybulla. |