UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is visiting Moldova, the country that has taken in the most Ukrainian refugees relative to its own size. The small nation is one of Europe's poorest and faces many challenges.
Moldova has declared a state of emergency amid skyrocketing gas prices, after Russia decreased its exports of natural gas. It's not the first time the Kremlin has used its resources for political leverage.
Moldova: A country without parents
Twenty-five years after independence, Moldova remains one of the poorest countries of the ex-Soviet republics. Better money abroad has caused tens of thousands of parents to leave Moldova and their children behind.
Left behind
Tanya moved to Italy five years ago where she works as a caregiver for the elderly and earns about 850 euros ($960) a month. But her three daughters Karolina, Sabrina and Olga were left behind in Moldova. They were 8, 9 and 12 years old, respectively, when she left.
On the phone with mom
The girls initially lived alone at first, even though the oldest was only 12 years old. After a time, they began living with various people, to whom their mother regularly sent money.