"I've lived 76 years, but it's never been like this before," says Zofia, a 76-year-old from Ryglice near Tarnów. The woman lives on a survivor's pension of less than 2,000 zlotys a month and she has not bought any coal or firewood to heat her house during winter.
Zofia lives alone in Ryglice near Tarnów. She raised four children, her husband died. Currently, the senior is struggling to buy coal before winter. Zofia told TVN24 reporter that she needed coal to heat her home.
"It's never been like this before"
"The heating season starts exactly in one month, and - if it's cloudy and rainy - I'll have to light the furnace already in September," Zofia said, adding that she had filed a request for coal allowance. "I've filed, it's better than nothing. I have less than 2,000 zlotys of survivor's pension after my husband, not really much to make do. Maybe things will change after the New Year, maybe it will get better? I've lived 76 years, but it's never been like this before," she said.
No hope to buy coal this year
"I need three tonnes of coal, usually I would buy it from spring piecemeal, but now there's absolutely no hope I will buy it, not one bit," Zofia says. At the moment she only has some firewood which she uses as tinder. "Coal is necessary because this furnace is designed for coal, it won't reach such temperature with wood," the woman explained.
Zofia's son has been trying to buy coal for her. "He signed me up there - where I would always buy. They had good, legit coal, but now signing up is over. I don't sleep at nights and I don't know what to think, if I sort it out or not, I've no idea. I've been through a lot in my life, but I don't remember situation like this," the 76-year-old says.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvn24.pl
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24