UNHCR Is Expanding Its Operations in Poland to Help Ukrainian Refugees
In a statement issued on May 27, the UNHCR announced that since the start of the Ukraine war on February 24, Poland had accepted more than 3.5 million refugees, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
“The pace of arrivals had slowed down in comparison to early March, when over 100,000 people were arriving per day, to around 20,000 daily in the course of May,” the statement reads.
According to the UNHCR, Poland, in support of refugees coming from Ukraine, has established systems to provide legal residence, access to employment, education, health care, and other social welfare schemes.
Meanwhile, over 1.1 million refugees have been registered with the Polish authorities, receiving a state ID number (PESEL) that gives them access to these services. According to data provided by the UNHCR, 94 per cent of them are women and children.
UNHCR launched its cash assistance program in March, and as of today, the agency has established eight cash registration centres in key refugee reception areas, including bigger cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw, Ostroda, Gdynia, as well as Gdansk.
“Over 100,000 refugees from Ukraine have already received financial support from UNHCR to cover their basic needs, such as paying rent or buying food and medicine. Cash is provided for a three-month period to those most in need serving as a transitional emergency safety net until they can better support themselves or be included in government social protection systems,” the statement also explains.
In addition, almost 20 per cent of registered refugees for financial assistance have specific needs, such as severe medical cases, the elderly, single mothers without family support, women at risk, and persons with disabilities.
UNHCR, together with UNICEF, has established twelve Safe Areas, Protection and Support in Poland, where refugees can receive information and advice about rights and services and at the same time receive immediate psychosocial support.
At the same time, UNHCR has sent from its warehouse Rzeszow 139 trucks of humanitarian supplies to help displaced people and people affected by the conflict inside Ukraine.
The organisation has also coordinated the development of a Regional Inter-Agency Refugee Response Plan, bringing together 87 partners in Poland, thus seeking $740.6 million to meet priority needs. According to the UNHCR, so far, 25 per cent of applications for Poland have been funded.
