At least 100,000 Ukrainians cross border into Poland: official

Ukrainian women and children cross the border from Ukraine to Poland at the Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing on February 26, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. – AFP photo.

Polish deputy interior minister Pawel Szefernaker on Saturday said that at least 100,000 people had crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine since Russia’s invasion this week.

‘From the onset of warfare in Ukraine through today, along the entire border with Ukraine, 100,000 people have crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland,’ Szefernaker told reporters in the border village of Medyka, southeastern Poland.

He said 90 percent of the refugees have concrete places to go in Poland, such as the homes of friends or family, but that the remainder are seeking help at nine reception centres set up along the border following Ukraine invasion by Russia.

The centres offer meals and medical care, a place to rest as well as any necessary information.

The head of the Polish border guard, Tomasz Praga, added at the press conference that on Friday alone nearly 50,000 people had crossed into Poland from Ukraine.

‘Latest update is that almost 116,000 have fled to neighbouring countries since 24 Feb — mainly Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania,’ the UN refugee agency UNHCR tweeted on Saturday.

‘Numbers are rising,’ it added.

AFP