Refugee Camp Throws Birthday Celebration for 7-Year-Old Ukrainian Girl
A refugee camp in Romania recently threw a surprise birthday celebration for a 7-year-old Ukrainian girl named Arina.
ISU Suceava, a local fire service, posted a video of the occasion to Facebook on Thursday. So far, it has received more than 12,000 views and over 400 likes.
In the video, a smiling Arina exits her family's tent and is greeted by a chorus of people singing happy birthday. Once the song is done, a member of the local authorities carries her over to someone who is holding a birthday cake.
After she blows out her candle, the crowd says, "bravo," and then presents Arina with gifts and balloons.
Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs also shared the video to their Twitter account.
"Happy birthday, Arina! We want this nightmare you live to end as soon as possible, and to celebrate your next birthday at home," the ministry tweeted.
A few Facebook commenters wished Arina a happy birthday as well.
"Happy birthday and lots of health and happiness and long life, Arina!!! May God protect you!!!" wrote Maryola, according to a provided translation.
"Congratulations!! Happy Birthday!!" added Isache.
More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia started its full-scale invasion of the country, Newsweek previously reported. According to the Associated Press, it is the "fastest movement of refugees during this century."
"It's unfathomable that just seven days into the war in Ukraine, 1 million people have been senselessly uprooted from their homes," said U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Global Spokesperson Kathryn Mahoney in a statement to Newsweek. "Until the guns are silenced and the violence stops, more innocent people will have their lives upended and be forced to flee."
Refugees have escaped to countries such as Poland, Hungary and Romania, among others. According to Sky News, more than 670,000 refugees have fled to Poland alone. Romania, meanwhile, has taken in more than 150,000 people.
If the war does not stop, the U.N. estimated that more than 4 million Ukrainians could flee the country in the coming weeks and months.
On Friday, the head of NATO confirmed the use of cluster bombs by Russian military forces in Ukraine.
Cluster bombs, said the BBC, are "rockets or missiles that deploy a large number of small explosives." According to the news organization, they are usually fired from the ground.
"We have seen the use of cluster bombs and we have seen reports of use of other types of weapons which would be in violation of international law," said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in a press briefing on Friday.
Follow our live blog for updates on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
