Amid the Russian invasion, not less than 100,000 Ukrainians have crossed the Ukraine-Poland border to seek refuge in Poland due to the attacks from Russia which commenced on Thursday last week. The nine reception centers were set up by the Polish government along the border in Poland, and currently have a community of about 1.5 million Ukrainians.
“Starting from the 9nset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine till date, throughout the entire border with Ukraine, 100,000 Ukrainians have moved over from Ukraine to Poland,” Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker confirmed to the reporters from the border village of Medyka. From 7 am, the Ukrainian side halted all car movement by blocking the car lane while allowing pedestrians traffic. This was initiated to possibly reduce the queue on the Ukrainian side, “ Szefernaker told the reporters.
“The refugees have options here in Poland, some have places to go to like homes of friends or family, but the remaining chunk of refugees are seeking help at the Nine reception centers which have been set up for this present situation. Among 5he refugees, majority of the population consists of children and women as well as men outside the age bracket 18-60 who are presently been recruited to serve the Ukrainian,” he added. Most of the arrivals were women and children as well as men outside the 18-to-60 age range who face conscription in Ukraine, he added. While the centers were offering food and medical care to these refugees, a place to rest was being made available which is spacious and believed to accommodate them.
Zein Basravi of Al Jazeera said that Przemysl, a small town in Poland has turned out to be a major focal point of activity as the Ukrainian refugees continued to troop in. All the borders of Poland connecting to Ukraine are all open to pedestrian traffic, this observation was made by Zein Basravi from a town in Eastern Poland. With government is fully aware of how Ukrainian citizens are stuck at the Ukrainian side of the border, which may be due to the long process and clearance. Some had to abandon their cars, railway lines and prefer to walk as long as they can cross over successfully to a place of safety.
According to the head of the Polish border guard, Tomasz Praga, “close to 50,000 refugees have successfully crossed the border from Ukraine to Poland as on Friday. The daily processing at the border sees about 50,000 people cross over and it is expected to increase with time. Although Poland has already been housing about 1.5 million Ukrainians before the onset of the Russian invasion and has always shown interest in supporting them, yet has seen more of those fleeing Ukraine into its territory.
“The latest update has shown that almost 116,000 Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries such as mainly Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, and Romania, since 24th February, “ tweeted by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR on Saturday. The numbers keep soaring while we seriously hope the conflict will be over soon. The UN said the number of people seeking refuge in other countries apart from could rise to five million with time.