Poland welcomes 3.5 million refugees from Ukraine: officials

Poland has taken in 3.5 million refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Border Guard agency reported on Saturday.

Refugees from war-torn Ukraine arrive at one of the border crossings with Poland.

Twitter/Polish Border Guard

“Since February 24, a total of 3.5 million people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine,” it said in a tweet. 

On Friday, 23,700 refugees from Ukraine arrived in the country, compared with some 22,000 a day earlier, according to the Polish Border Guard.

#Pomagamy🇺🇦
Od 24.02 #funkcjonariuszeSG odprawili w przejściach granicznych na kierunku z🇺🇦do🇵🇱3,5 mln os.
Wczoraj tj.20.05➡️ 23,7 tys.
Dziś do godz.07.00➡️
5,6 tys.
W dn.20.05 z🇵🇱do🇺🇦odprawiono 28,4 tys.os. pic.twitter.com/R0UVUNJf9m

— Straż Graniczna (@Straz_Graniczna) May 21, 2022

While most of those crossing the border are Ukrainian nationals, there are also citizens of many other countries among the refugees, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency has reported, citing the foreign ministry in Warsaw.

Poland is helping those in need, no matter who they are.

Refugees are receiving full support in Poland - no matter what you hear on #FakeNews sites.#PolandFirstToHelp #solidarityWithUkraine #FactsMatter

👉https://t.co/AvQPa1dmb5 pic.twitter.com/cyDsVeF6Ye

— Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) March 3, 2022

Poland in March enacted a measure to offer wide-ranging support to Ukrainians escaping the Russian invasion of their country, which began on February 24.

The measure grants them residence rights and ensures access to education, healthcare and social benefits.

More than 90 percent of Poles are in favour of accepting refugees from war-torn Ukraine, according to a survey.

(pm)

Source: PAP