麻豆社

The UN fears that war in Ukraine could force up to five million people to flee and says that at least 386,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded. Long queues of cars, and many people on foot, have been making their way to Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.

Maria describes a gruelling journey to the Ukraine border with Poland, then a 23-hour wait to cross, without food, toilets or water. She says the welcome on the Polish side brought her to tears, as she and others were greeted by volunteers offering food and lifts to surrounding towns. Although she hasn't had time to process recent events, she says her life is still in Ukraine and that she hopes to return one day.

"There were no toilets, no food, no water. I didn't even know my body would be capable of standing in a queue for 23 hours without all those things."

Photo: People at the Ukrainian border with Poland Credit: Getty Images