dollars come straight. to our c.e.o. but when the dealers. in. their final resting place. hello and welcome to focus on europe show and it's great to have you with us sometimes a life can change from one moment to the next that is what many ukrainians have been experiencing lately not just because of the corona crisis their country in just witnessed the driest winter in 100 years followed by a dry spring these conditions allowed wildfires to burn it relentlessly in northern

ukraine whole villages were consumed by the flames a lack of water made putting out of the fires challenging clouds of smoke and dust traveled hundreds of kilometers engulfing the capital kiev in small. the area surrounding the town of chernobyl has also been affected although wildfires are nothing new in this part of the country they were particularly sivia this year many families have been hard hit they lost everything they had within an instant. a pile of bricks where once there was a home. left wooden houses just minutes the flames yvonne's was one of them. it was the thursday before easter. all of a sudden we saw smoke rising in the sky over there with all the men drove over to the neighboring village to help. but once we got there there was nothing left to

put out who voted for wouldn't when we tried to get whom our route was blocked by flames with a bullet from the flames jump to tree top 10 meters above our heads. somehow i managed to get my wife out. everything around us was on fire. thousands of hectares of force have been destroyed and noble the sides of the world's worst nuclear accident is less than 100 kilometers from these villages many had feared the fires would see radiation levels jump well there's no evidence of a dangerous rising radiation it's not just these isolated villages to defeat the pain. in the capital kiev millions were left struggling to breathe a smoke and dust from the fires covered the city making ukraine's capital the world's most polluted city for days at a time. back in the village the flames came so quickly that yvonne had to leave everything behind including his animals the barn was under there. when we left we

released the goats and the chicken on the roof but they got scared look at what they ran back into the barn when in the what would you call it and if you could go . or not hear the need to call the. us how do. you keep it. we just can't get this fire out however much water we throw at it would want to get even within sight of the village the fire as a still smoldering weeks after the main fire was put out the light dry peat sewell's and other thoughts spread underground among the trees roots putting these fires out is getting hotter and hotter. we have to drive further each time to get water all the ponds around here are dry. we didn't have a real winter and now we don't have any water. only the rain can save us now we're begging god to send us rain that would be salvation for us and the whole country.

what exactly caused these fires is still a matter of contention was it were just a canvas of the discarded cigarette perhaps farmers burning waste but none of these things and you what has changed is the climate. along with the should all now be under water as you can see it's all just dried out to be minus. the what you could be in the field to forests in this region for years he's seen them get dry and dry the core who we've never seen fires like this new crane on a totally different scale. in the past 5 years we've seen temperatures rising even faster than before. previously we've seen summer temperatures no higher than 25 to 28 degrees so in the past few years we've had up to 38 sometimes even 40 degrees.

or so so that it's really painful to see it like this it's a catastrophe. for we had only seen far as like this on t.v. in australia california. 24 to me. sichuan is home once stood in this forest clearing she and her 2 sons only just made it out in time. the boys had just started eating lunch when we heard a strange whistling sound at 1st we thought it might be a train in the distance that sound was the wind the trees and the flames all together we couldn't see it only here it suddenly it was here we managed to get out at the last moment we walked 8 kilometers down that way to the main road we would not have made it to the nearest village. when we got to the road it had melted it was that hot. everything's woodlawn has left is now in this mobile home gift from people she's never met who read about her situation online.

it's a story you hear time and time again in these villages from food to clothing and even building materials the villages can barely keep track of the donations flooding in from across the country. almost see everyone as helping isn't right for them from reason talker's through to the russian and the ukrainian churches but it will be there all supporting us i think it's the on the who would argue that disaster like this reveals who people really are. we have people here in the village who made a big deal out of the patriots they were the 1st to high scores of people there were others with bad reputations we actually were the 1st to run into the flames fire. that's all they've. known once to leave. you but you're all just praying for rain the only rain can put an end to these miners because you're right the fire brigade will manage a little. polluted you begin with over there. the smoke is rising again

or you're going to move on but it might come up. the long awaited rain and finally came down on this many after we finished filming this report but scientists are warning about the danger is not over the soil is still too dry and it's not even summer yet. here in the we have gotten very much used to being able to travel from one country to another without having to go through border chicks in fact that most of the times you don't even notice that you've crossed from one country to another but because of the corona crisis that has changed we visit the village of rubble that is divided by the german a danish florida family is a living in different parts of the village cannot visit each other most likely for a couple of more weeks but some are trying to make the most of the current situation sylvia broder some is hurrying to meet her sister kiersten they live in the same village but sylvia lives in germany and her sister in denmark.

to do with the other 2 months ago the german danish border crossing here was closed dividing the village into it and it took that. took that that now all of the 2 sisters can do is meet at this barrier. yeah. and here's tim voss and her danish husband live on the danish side of the village sylvia runs a restaurant on the german side and they often me at the border to exchange greetings and chat about what's happening in the village it is important to them. that. many of my friends live on the other side i don't know how they're doing i can't see them drive over there and visit them that hurts me and i miss my sack so much it's about my sister has 2 grandchildren they're like my own grandchildren i'm like a grandma to them and of course they want to see me sometimes my niece knew me at

the border as well and then they stand on the other side asking why i'm not able to hug them. yet not even then so we have to explain to them that the border is shut and that they're not allowed to visit my home because they're in denmark by the i did them out in. the german and danish coronavirus lockdown means many friends and families in the border region who no longer meet. even though over 20 years ago the local border post here was dismantled and border check scrapped. the barrier is all that's left a reminder of long bygone days. usually so obvious terraces frequented by mostly danish guests the restaurant serves hearty german fare and has a menu in both languages. but with a lockdown so it was forced to close down. so you take away meals alone simply won't cover her costs she is facing financial ruin. the money could we normally

have space to accommodate $120.00 guests. but with the social distancing we will only be allowed 40 or $44.00 people. we'll try to get back to normal when we're allowed to reopen and the border is open again. so if that doesn't work out we'll have to close for good she's not sure how many years now we've been a family business for 95 years we've run it for 29. i local farmers like ian's hans and are concerned about the situation too. he grows crops on both sides of the border. he can no longer take the direct route to his 200 hectares of land on the danish side. he's got

a special permit for designated border crossings but that means he has to take major detours. the ags goes i'm successful so we're very worried these measures will stay in place until harvest season. that would mean transporting large farming equipment and machines but combine harvesters back and forth. along with the harvest. what a nightmare. nobody knows when the border will be reopened to go off and. at least the members of this german danish band are keeping their spirits up. every saturday they meet at the border to play. to rehearse as they say and to send a message that europe needs open borders and to highlight the importance of good relations between germany and denmark in spite of the border closure.

sylvia protests and shares the sentiment. she says even though the coronavirus lockdown is making life in the border region difficult for germans and danes villagers now feel more connected than ever and corona cannot prevent that. northern italy has become a symbol of the devastating effects of the corona pandemic the virus has killed thousands of people in this part of the country businesses and schools have been forced to close and many have lost their jobs but after months of mourning and fear life and a whole parsed slowly returning to italians like flavia all mortal was just recovering from cope with 19. with a virus that is spreading around the world slipped its way into me. it's devious invisible and bloodthirsty wilder than an animal on the savanna more toxic than

a desert snake quieter than a thief in the night. love your mortal contracted coated 19 wound up in intensive care and was released before he fully recovered now he's spending 3 weeks in quarantine at home all alone. people. i have time to remember the friends i've lost. would you like some water. priests davido he hands out food to the needy and back them up he lives with 320 other people mainly refugees and poor italians. so went on davida got coronavirus they feared for the worst he's the heart and soul of this century. a little something funny. they collected money and sent it to africa to the

priest so he perform rights and. healthy again in a few of them believe that it works ok if that's what they want to believe. during the worst days of the corona crisis baerga most city center was completely closed off no one could come in or out the waiting list for those in need of help or shelter group by another 300 people. carpentry business has had no confirmed cases of covert 19 although a few employees did have fevers and now they are able to return to work and are trying to adapt to the government strict safety regulations agazzi understand the need for rules but says like so often in italy they're extremely complicated. you know if you. are trying to get a handle on the requirements needed to reopen our business especially the protective equipment you can't find mass anywhere or gloves either or you find them

i don't know if they're the right ones or you don't know where they come from because there's a lot of fraudulent offers because speculators are profiting from the tragedy. agazzi wonders how italy will ever recover because the corona virus has crippled not only the country's health but also the entire economy. baerga mole lives in the heart of lombardy the city of 120000 people has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic in all the italy some have even called the italian. but slowly people here are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel if the word out . flavio moros family lived in fear after he started running a fever and having trouble breathing but now he's on the road to recovery next week he'll be tested for coded 1000 again but until then he and his wife are keeping their distance ok. we speak to each other this far

apart. she smiling at me i can see it in her eyes. i long for her brace a caress even just a cautious little kiss. everything will be all right says his wife took to on the robin has become the mantra in italy in recent weeks don't davido is also confident but he knows that what's happened in belgium oh where military vehicles have carried away countless coffins will change his home city it's changed him to. listen. to what i learn. to seize the day to look with joy as if it were your 1st move on with responsibility the homeless it feels as if it were your last response. coronavirus the invisible threat has shown

him life can be over in a flash. of a god he is still worried not just for himself but for the future of his company many businesses depend on state aid but if it doesn't arrive until july many will have already gone bankrupt. or not i don't know but if you don't respect those who need from tension on the institutions. but it's a bureaucratic time frames and conditions are like the ones we're familiar with initially and that will help us. make entirely different decisions than the ones we used to forget which is us and we must be there on the usual telling everyone he has faith in the e.u. so he's optimistic hopes member states will support one another especially in times of crisis like this otherwise he says the e.u. is pointless. morrow says he's been born again he's patiently waiting out his quarantine he and his loved ones are pursuing a common goal helping flavio get better even if that means he's all on his own.

i'm just waiting it out like one of many. one of the many who are fortunate enough . and we wish him all the best and a quick recovery life under lockdown that's what millions of french people have had to endure for weeks and then finally this week some restrictions were lifted people are now allowed to leave their house our correspondent in paris kept a video diary documenting of the psychological toll that the stay at home or to took on him we met him on his 1st day out and about in paris. i'm on my way to work in my editorial office for the 1st time in 8 weeks for the 1st time since the coup in a long time but somehow this quiet on the streets. even though we were allowed to

move around freely many are seeing of whom i'm working from there the persians are probably afraid of the virus there was. a look back at 13th of march 2020 locked down the crew on a virus is spreading throughout france many people do not understand why from one day to the next if you no longer leave the house. my father and i are aware of the danger because he is a doctor he said. i still have to go to my practice patients who have the coronavirus com and i have no protective equipment that's impossible for health authorities are supposed to protect us and they have let us down that's especially painful. i'm worried as 64 my father is in the risk group to keep him safe at work because a program for remote testing on his computer every morning he now sees his patients on the screen because many are afraid they have the virus. should. i

think it's highly unlikely that you become infected with the coronavirus. the situation is different in hospitals. friends of my father were in crowded intensive care units. the hospital staff also lacked protective clothing. my father is upset the so many people are infected. several doctors and nurses have died. is there. every evening at 8 pm sharp applause for the doctors and hospital staff. our neighbors want to show support for those who are risking their lives by fighting on the front line against the virus. i doing the day can do is cook meals for once my girlfriend elaine has come by she lives with her parents and 3 siblings in a 40 square metre apartment like many provisions. am the streets are empty or than

ever i say are deserted the death toll is rising and rising i nevertheless we try to maintain a normal rhythm of life getting up early every morning. sure. we celebrate my father's 65th birthday as best we can establish normality even when nothing is normal anymore. and as much as i try to talk plain self into accepting house arrest i'm really feeling closed and i have only one thing on my mind to get out of paris . i find an excuse to sneak out of town early in the morning i want to visit my mother in the halls on the 600 kilometer dry i see just 5 cars just a river i never seen our country so empty that one is like a science fiction movie and this is for. after a 5 hour journey i reach my destination despite the beautiful landscape my mother

is not doing well either my grandmother is in an old people's home and she is not related visit her for weeks she can only talk to her through the window. or your mobile hello mom i brought you flowers the fruit of. course she could i can't have physical contact with her anymore but that is important to her and i can't take care of her clothes anymore since the lockdown i have not brought her any because i'm afraid i might be carrying the virus she will be sure to do the small shop. back in paris my father no one to see patients in his practice again under strict safety rules but he has to get the masks and other protective equipment himself on the internet for a lot of money but tearful to. patients are only allowed to come to the practice if they have an appointment so no one is allowed to sit in the waiting room. to work could be. ringback the patients must disinfect their hands. every morning we also

have to clean the floors thoroughly sufficiently clear that 11th of me 2020 after 8 weeks of lockdown and more than 25000 dead her 1st steps back into everyday life restaurants remain closed. i mean if the lockdown is left to life will not be the seems to for you must be patient and learn to live with the fires. void of it's because the existing restrictions have to take that we all get in we are. one thing and that we are getting more and more used to is seeing people covering their faces with the masts and the several countries in europe people are required to cover their faces in public spaces like in the czech republic now because of masks as sometimes a hard to get by some artists in that 2nd bottle of prag have come up with

a way to offer a masts to anyone who needs them. the prague spring 2020 comes bearing special blossoms facemasks hang from a tree in the prague district. events are no longer taking place in the atrium cultural center so the staff here has started connecting people differently now through art and culture but by producing face masks every day around 50 face masks are hung up on the tree and fence and each person is allowed to take a maximum of 2 masks free of charge. those that amount the profit that gets free of charge it's just neighborly help on a simple level where the people here help one another one person will bring textiles others will come to sew and some bring finished facemask for other people to pick up the wearing face masks has been made compulsory in the czech republic for more than 4 weeks now and has become a part of everyday life in prague. unlike germany the masks need to be worn at all times in public there were shortages of face masks here too but people reacted

quickly and the country turned into a giant sewing machine of sorts. foreigners living in the czech republic can only take their hats know their masks off to this and are like paul weight from england . the way they've managed compared to say britain or france or spain or the states has been strong good guys but i think the czechs have played a big part as well. the desire to work together to do things like making. and to be genuinely socially responsible yeah i was i think really helped. when in prague even john lennon wears a mask now and as he sang in his song imagine it's easy if you try. and press the how the people fragmenting their imagination to get through a crisis and that's it for today's show i thank you for watching and bye bye.

the for the night sound. of. the for. the song i. watched for acoustic set nor money. dot com they are calling us about. cars or how sounds determine an. instrument. 30 minutes on d w. africa. and more is the way to save

missing dangerous pieces. bills are threatened by environmental destruction. a south african project tries to protect the baby birds lovingly rearing them by hand. but there's nothing to stop nature from calling the eco. africa. to minutes on d w. this state of emergency is the new normal. people around the world are documenting this traumatic times. they're keeping the corona diary. and welcoming us into the sun. let us get as up close and personal as the pandemic will allow. diaries starts maintain d.w. . killer. what do

they dream of at night. as cleaners they see the face of horror. their job censoring for the social media industry. in the miller there are thousands of so-called content monitors day for day they scream terrifying images from online platforms car if a job for starvation wage the strain is enormous. the cleaners or sworn to secrecy they are not allowed to talk about their work. and no one asks how they are doing. i think. i need to stop or something walk up to. the cleaners social media's shadow industry starts to names on g.w. .

player. play. this is the dublin news live from but then the united nations warns the coronavirus pandemic arist sparking a global mental health crisis millions of people forced into isolation unemployment and poverty suffering severe mental stress the un urges governments and civil society to address the health needs arising from the outbreak. typhoon vom form slams into the philippines.