WARSAW: About half a million refugees have made it on to Polish territory from Ukraine since the start of a Russian invasion into the former Soviet republic last week, according to officials in Warsaw on Wednesday.
“We are obliged to help our neighbours and we are doing it. We have created a humanitarian corridor and we have sped up all processes that we can speed up from our side,” said Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki before a joint visit to the Korczowa border crossing with European Council President Charles Michel.
The stance earned praise from Pope Francis, who noted from Rome: “You were the first to support Ukraine, by opening your borders, hearts and doors to those Ukrainians fleeing war.” Michel said it was important for all EU member states to show solidarity as the Ukraine crisis unfolds and to do their best to show support to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian attack.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started last week after months of Russian denials that any such attack was on the cards, has prompted hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee westward to escape the fighting.
“Poland is helping all the people fleeing the war, all war refugees,regardless of their country of origin,” said Morawiecki. He also urged people seeking shelter to ignore Russian propaganda about the way they would be treated at the border.
He was likely referring to images recently shared on social media in which people of African origin complained they were being forced to wait at the border while other refugees of European origin were allowed through.
Poland is not the refugees’ only destination. About 120,000 have made their way to Romania, though more than half have already travelled onto other countries, leaving about 46,000 still in Romania, said Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, in comments reported by Mediafax. And in the Czech Republic, authorities say they have registered 20,000 arrivals from Ukraine since the crisis began. – dpa
