"As part of the implementation of the contingency plan" to remove Angolan citizens who left Ukraine and took refuge in Poland, since the beginning of the conflict with Russia, the Government of Angola, through the diplomatic mission in Polish territory, "created conditions for reception of all Angolan citizens affected by the conflict, with 277 citizens arriving in Warsaw by March 5", said a statement issued by the ministry.
"As a result, the Angolan executive mobilized an air vehicle - a Boeing Triple Seven - to bring all the aforementioned citizens to Angola, including national and foreign spouses", the note said.
However, the ministry added: "Of the 277 citizens welcomed in Warsaw, only 30 accepted to embark for Angola, and the rest decided to remain on Polish soil at their own risk, which exempts the Angolan State from responsibilities over these citizens, except for consular support possible".
Therefore, and "within the scope of the pan-Africanist vocation of the Republic of Angola, the Government agreed to transport citizens from other countries" on the African continent on the same plane.
On March 2, the Angolan government had already said that it was preparing the withdrawal of its citizens fleeing the war in Ukraine "in close liaison" with its diplomatic representations in Russia, Poland, Serbia and Hungary.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it was "working towards the implementation of the Evacuation Contingency Plan in order to ensure proper consular protection for Angolan citizens who are held in conflict areas in Ukraine".
Portuguese association in France to receive two Angolans
In addition, the Portuguese association Les Hirond'Ailes, together with other French associations, will welcome two young Angolans from Ukraine who were unable to cross the Polish border to the Paris region.
"Young people are upset that they have to cross the border and don't accept them because of their skin color, send them back and have to hire a taxi. I wasn't brought up like that, I have mixed-race granddaughters. We are all the same," said the president of the Les Hirond'Ailes association, Suzette Fernandes, speaking to the Lusa agency.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, this association leader has mobilized, as she has a Moldovan friend who showed her the effects of the conflict on the daily lives of millions of Ukrainians. With the other members of the association, Suzette Fernandes started to collect essential goods to send to Ukraine in partnership with other local associations, in Sucy-en-Brie, on the outskirts of Paris.
They told her about these two young Angolans who were not able to cross the border and, through contacts in Poland, it was not only possible to get them to cross the border, but the young people arrive in France on Sunday.
In Sucy-en-Brie they have a house waiting for them, which will be given to them free of charge for a few weeks. Les Hirond'Ailes took care of filling the cupboards with food, having washed and ironed clothes for these two young people aged 21 and 22 who until a few days ago were students in Ukraine.
With a visa that allows them to stay in Europe, the association is now looking for work opportunities in the Portuguese community so that young people can find a stable situation in France. For now, none of them shows a desire to return to Angola.
At the same time, another 20-ton truck is leaving for Ukraine next week and Les Hirond'Ailes is gathering children's and baby clothes, blankets, but also hygiene products for babies, women and men to distribute to refugees in Poland and even to get some goods to the Ukrainian soldiers on the front.
"I was a little apprehensive when they started talking to me about products for soldiers, because I thought 'are we going to help the war?', but after all we are not helping the war, we are helping men. Their well-being", said Suzette Fernandes.
The association Les Hirond'Ailes will carry out from Sunday at Casa de Portugal, in Champigny-sur-Marne, in the Paris region, a collection of goods that will then be distributed in Poland and Ukraine.
In the early hours of February 24, Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine which, according to Kiev authorities, has already killed more than 2,000 civilians.
The attacks also caused more than 1.5 million people to flee to neighboring countries, according to the UN.
The Russian invasion was condemned by most of the international community, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and reinforcing economic sanctions on Moscow.
