This was actually quite easy to understand. Russia was at war at the time, and Russia was one of the most backward of the Imperialist countries. Naturally, the residents of the Russian front lines and occupied territories lived in the most miserable conditions.
Previously, the Tsarist government had requisitioned grain from the occupied territories. After the Central Powers occupied Ukraine, they likewise requisitioned grain from the locals. Moreover, whether Tsarist Russia or the Central Powers, neither had particularly good military discipline, especially the Bulgarian troops. On top of that, the war had already severely affected local agricultural production.
During this period, Ukraine and the other occupied territories of Tsarist Russia might not have been literal hell on earth, but they were certainly drowning in misery and fire.
So never underestimate a tiny biscuit. They quickly stabilized these Russian refugees who had long been trapped in famine.
As for their lives in the Basra refugee camp, although they were far from the war zone, the Ottoman Empire was clearly not running a charity hall. It basically only ensured that they stayed alive.
"Liberty!"
The so-called Liberty was an old-fashioned sailing ship anchored in the Persian Gulf south of Fao town.
Dozens of small boats had already gathered on the beach between Fao town and the Persian Gulf. Since Fao town had no harbor and large ships had nowhere to dock, they could only drift at sea.
To reach the Liberty, they had to take those small boats, row alongside the Liberty, and then climb aboard by ladder.
The refugees were divided into groups of ten and boarded the boats one after another. Each boat had three East Africans responsible for maintaining order and steering the boats toward the Liberty.
At the shore, the East Africans carried out one final disinfection