Northern Nevada couple back from Ukraine after helping refugees evacuate

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — When the shelling of Ukraine began last month, Lidia Karasinska and Jon Staab couldn't just watch.

The Carson City couple dropped everything and booked a flight to Lidia's home country of Poland and started driving toward the Ukrainian border.

Once there, they encountered the worst refugee crisis since World War II.

In an interview with News 4-Fox 11 Thursday, the couple shared about their experiences assisting the humanitarian efforts on the ground and about their plans to return.

Just never felt so much human sorrow in my life. Just waves and waves of pure agony.

"War belongs in the 20th century. It has no place in this century," Staab said when asked how the experience changed his perspective on the conflict.

The couple jumped into action, doing whatever they could to help the refugees - serving food, comforting people waiting to cross the border and shuttling the wounded to safety. In their 10-day trip, they crossed over the Poland-Ukraine border 19 times.

Karsinska said though they witnessed immense human suffering, the humanitarian response restored her faith in humanity.

"For all the sadness and sorrow that was caused by one person, it also created this huge wave of help," she said.

There's so much evil out there but there is so much good.

They launched their own nonprofit organization called Ukrainian Refugee Rescue and are currently raising money to return to Ukraine for a longer period of time to continue helping refugees evacuate and later assist in the resettlement of the country.

Visit their website to read more about their specific needs and to donate to their cause.

Email reporter Ben Margiott at bjmargiott@sbgtv.com. Follow @BenMargiott on Twitter and Ben Margiott KRNV on Facebook.