As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell is reporting from the Poland-Ukraine border for a news special. During her report, O’Donnell spoke to Ukrainian refugees discussing the challenges of fleeing their war-torn country.
With the war ongoing and no end in sight, these refugees face an uncertain and difficult future. The war has caused three million Ukrainians to flee the country; some 2 million have ended up in neighboring Poland.
O’Donnell talked with children, mothers, and fathers regarding their experiences and what they plan to do next. The news anchor narrated the trauma and shock she witnessed among the refugees, “As one woman said to me, this is not supposed to happen in the 21st century… A war like this.”
The CBS anchor then talked to a young boy asking a young boy to share his emotions and what his family plans to do next now that he’s out of Ukraine.
“Are you scared?” She asked a young boy. “I’m so scared,” he responded. “Where will you go next?” she asked him. “We try to immigrate to Canada or USA,” the boy replied. “Canada or USA?” O’Donnell added. “My father has a sister in USA,” he responded.
O’Donnell then spoke to two women who crossed from Kharkiv to Poland by train with three children but no food. After leaving their home city, she stated, “they are not familiar with Poland, so will pick a small town where they can rest and figure things out.”
The anchor then discussed the dangers that women and children face with a UN official named Mohamed Refaat.
“It’s hard to decide now. It’s definitely not labor trafficking,” Refaat responded. “It’s very obvious from the attempt; it’s old guys trying to pick young girls, so you can assume it’s…”
“Old guys trying to get young girls,” O’Donnell continued. “Have there been arrests for human trafficking?” “Yes,” Refaat replied.
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
