Poland is helping Ukrainian refugees on an unprecedented scale. Poles offer housing, transport, collect material, provide medical and psychological help, and provide food and drinks. The aid is prepared and provided by ordinary citizens as well as the government, central institutions, local governments, religious organizations, entrepreneurs, universities and cultural institutions.
Residents of different regions drive their private cars to the border carrying food and water, blankets, medicines and toys for children, and on their return, they transfer refugees deep into Poland, where Ukrainian families are hosted by ordinary citizens and entrepreneurs.
A group of businessmen rented two hotels for Ukrainians for two months. Ukrainians living in Poland, together with business friends, rented a house near Warsaw, where several dozen refugees will find shelter. The owners of restaurants prepare hot meals, often delivering them to the border. Local residents also organize points at border crossings where visitors can eat a hot meal and drink a hot beverage before continuing their journey.
Local governments also organize mass aid campaigns presenting on the web many photos of places where temporary accommodations for Ukrainians have been prepared, most often in schools or kindergartens. In Opole, a closed mall in one of the shopping centers has been prepared and equipped for the Ukrainians.
Other institutions including universities also prepare places for refugees in dormitories. The Main Board of the Association of Polish Stage Artists decided to offer the House of Creative Work in Skolimów as a temporary home for refugees from Ukraine.
Many localities conduct material collections; some of donated items are transported to Ukraine, and some are dedicated to refugees in Poland. First contact points, night shelters and hotlines are operated by volunteers. The assistance is coordinated by the Union of Polish Metropolitan Cities. Church institutions – religious orders and parishes are also involved. There are also fundraisers organized for the needs of refugees.
Dogs and cats are transported from Ukraine to Poland; some of them travel with their owners, but also shelter animals are transported as they are also not safe in Ukraine. Many vets in Poland offered free care for the pets.
There are many websites where people can find information about the most necessary things, options for organizing accommodation and transport for refugees. There is also a government website “I help Ukraine: (Pomagam Ukrainie), where everybody can report their willingness to help by filling a special form which will be sent to units coordinating activities for refugees.
Poland offers many forms of support that can already be used by Ukrainian citizens through communication channels. This includes helpline 19- 524, central database of job offers in Ukrainian and ePraca mobile application. All this information can be found in one place: on the website www.pomagamukrainie.gov.pl.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński