The kindness of strangers

I have long been a provider of international humanitarian aid. But once I was a beneficiary of aid myself.  

Decades ago, when my child was very young, our family, like many others affected by civil war, had to make the decision to flee our home because we could no longer guarantee that we would remain safe if we stayed. 

Although my experience of being displaced was a long time ago, it has left lasting memories and continues to inform my decision-making as a humanitarian. 

I will never forget planning for every step ahead, despite the overwhelming uncertainty about what tomorrow would bring. 

When parents – including those whose families are on the run – tell me of their concerns about how to access medical treatment if their child gets sick, or how to ensure they receive the vaccines to fight off infections, I understand their worries.

Access to health care for people on the move is not always easy. But for anyone who has been forced to flee and is travelling with children, the elderly or those with disabilities, their vulnerabilities mean that these challenges are far more acute. Inadequate or crowded accommodation can lead to disease outbreaks that can cause serious illness or fatalities for those without resilience. Missed opportunities for routine vaccinations have the potential to become deadly. 

My lived experience means that I understand and anticipate the small details that others may not think about: how difficult it is for a new mother to breastfeed when she is stressed; what parents need to do if they are in a foreign country with a different language and don’t have records of their children’s vaccination history; how to ensure those with chronic diseases can access the care they need to stay alive. 

Understanding the concerns and difficulties of forcibly displaced families helps me and my colleagues at the WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova to effectively plan for services to meet the needs of refugees. 

Last year, when tens of thousands of refugees began fleeing from fighting in neighbouring Ukraine, myself and my Country Office colleagues immediately travelled to the border area.

Alongside United Nations partner agencies and the Moldovan government, I saw thousands of ordinary Moldovan citizens helping their Ukrainian neighbours.

The kindness that complete strangers extended to me when I was on the move all those years ago is something I have never forgotten. And I have seen this replicated in the hundreds of small but significant acts from ordinary Moldovans opening their hearts and homes to Ukrainian refugees in their hour of need. On a wider scale, the Moldovan government itself has shown similar generosity addressing the health and other needs of refugees over the past 18 months. 

In emergencies, everyone has a role to play, whether it is helping authorities with registration, organizing services, managing supplies, coordinating more efficient support, or carrying out many other functions. 

Humanitarian work requires full commitment, along with an understanding of your own limitations and the strengths of your partners.

And, not least, humbleness. 

Because there is someone out there seeking help who does not know anything about you, but who has hopes that you and all humanitarian workers they encounter will be their collective anchor as they transit through an experience one can never be prepared for.   

Dr Miljana Grbic is the WHO Representative in the Republic of Moldova.