Warsaw hosts meeting to help Ukrainian refugees – POLITICO

Warsaw plans to hold a meeting of regional ministers responsible for dealing with Ukrainian refugees on Monday to better coordinate efforts to help the millions who have fled the war.

Paweł Szefernaker, Poland’s deputy interior minister, who is also responsible for helping Ukrainian refugees, told POLITICO that the ministers will share their national experiences.

“In our countries we have many new challenges, some of the problems require systemic solutions,” he said, referring to the adaptation of labor markets, school systems and childcare to accommodate refugees. “The meeting will be the first such forum for exchanging information and experiences related to the stay and accommodation of Ukrainian war refugees in our countries.”

The meeting will be attended by ministers from countries bordering Ukraine – Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova – as well as from countries that have experienced large influxes of refugees, such as Britain, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. The Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Swarych will also be present.

Szefernaker said he hopes the meeting could be a recurring initiative.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February, 5.7 million Ukrainians – mostly women and children – have fled their country. corresponding the UNHCR.

More than 3 million came to Poland. While many have moved further west or returned to Ukraine, the Polish government believes estimates that around 1.6 million people want to stay longer.