VOA慢速英語: 烏克蘭老人的生命在烏俄戰(zhàn)爭中岌岌可危

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Old people in eastern Ukraine are suffering from theconflict between government forces and Russian-supported rebels. The United Nations estimates 60percent of people displaced by the fighting within thecountry are elderly. It says they often suffer from poormental and physical health. And it says many of themare living without gas, water and electricity.

VOA spoke with a 77-year-old Ukrainian woman namedLydia Stepanovna. For 16 years she lived quietly nearthe city of Debaltseve. But in January, the Ukrainianmilitary and pro-Russian rebels fought a fierce battle in the town. Rockets were fired, and the house next tohers was severely damaged.

Ms. Stepanovna says she was in bed, listening to artillery shells hitting areasfar away when suddenly the shells began landing close to her house. She wasvery scared. She had never heard such a loud sound. She prayed to God tohelp her. If she could not be saved, she wanted to die quickly. She didn’t wantto be disabled.

Ms. Stepanovna says there was bombing every day during the fighting.

She was afraid when she went to the bathroom and when she went out forwater. Sometimes when she went out to gather water, bombs would start tofall and she would drop the water and run for safety.

Many elderly people living in areas controlled by rebels have not received theirpensions in months. Rebels have distributed aid and recently paid each olderperson forty dollars.

On the wall of Lydia’s kitchen there is an old picture of a full breakfast meal. But now she has only dried bread, and the onions, apples and walnuts shegathers from her garden.

Lydia’s friend Luda is 80 years old and lives across the street. She lived in herbasement for a month during the shelling.

She says all of the windows in her house are broken and the roof has manyholes. When it rains, the water falls into her home. Her health is sufferingbecause she does not have shelter.

Sadly, this is not Lydia and Luda’s first war. They were children during WorldWar II. They remember when the German army invaded Ukraine in 1941.Lydia’s mother was working in a nearby factory when the Germans attacked.

She says her family was living near a chemical factory that was oftenattacked. She remembers the bombers in the sky.

Today, Lydia’s son is fighting with the rebels. She says she just wants the warto stop.

She says the war is happening for no reason. No one can understand why thiswar started. Even when the German soldiers were here we didn’t see suchthings like we see them today. She says her town is in very bad condition nowbecause of the conflict.

Older Ukrainians are once again experiencing the collapse of part of theircountry.

I’m Marsha James.