People fleeing the conflict in Ukraine enter Poland on foot at the Medyka border crossing. Ukrainians crossing the border exhibit a wide range of emotions, from tears and sadness to relief and sometimes laughter, as everone’s personal situation is unique. Many people appear to be tired, weary, even exhausted from their journeys. The waiting time at this Polish border checkpoint is reported to take up to four hours for people to be processed. The vast majority of refugees are women, children, and the elderly as Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country until martial law has been lifted. NGOs and volunteer relief services have gathered on the Poland-side of the border, providing food, clothing, and triage medical services to travelers. With the EU’s open borders, people are sometimes waiting patiently on the Poland-side of the border to meet their families or friends arriving from Ukraine and transport them elsewhere. For refugees needing shelter, travel assistance, and other services, the Polish authorities provide bus transportation to a former shopping mall now converted into a refugee relief center in the nearby town of Przemysl. Poland is offering Ukrainians free traing tickets to any of the rail system’s destinations to continue their journeys if desired. Medyca is located in the southeastern region of Poland, and about 13 miles from a Ukrainian military base that was attached by Russsian forces days earler, which killed 35 and wounded about 100 military personnel. According to the United Nations, so far 3.0 million Ukrainians have fled their homes due to Russia’s invasion, with 2.0 million people arriving in Poland.
People fleeing the conflict in Ukraine walk through the buffer zone at the Polish border to reach the gate at the Medyka border crossing. Ukrainians crossing the border exhibit a wide range of emotions, from tears and sadness to relief and sometimes laughter, as everone’s personal situation is unique. Many people appear to be tired, weary, even exhausted from their journeys. The waiting time at this Polish border checkpoint is reported to take up to four hours for people to be processed. The vast majority of refugees are women, children, and the elderly as Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country until martial law has been lifted. NGOs and volunteer relief services have gathered on the Poland-side of the border, providing food, clothing, and triage medical services to travelers. With the EU’s open borders, people are sometimes waiting patiently on the Poland-side of the border to meet their families or friends arriving from Ukraine and transport them elsewhere. For refugees needing shelter, travel assistance, and other services, the Polish authorities provide bus transportation to a former shopping mall now converted into a refugee relief center in the nearby town of Przemysl. Poland is offering Ukrainians free traing tickets to any of the rail system’s destinations to continue their journeys if desired. Medyca is located in the southeastern region of Poland, and about 13 miles from a Ukrainian military base that was attached by Russsian forces days earler, which killed 35 and wounded about 100 military personnel. According to the United Nations, so far 3.0 million Ukrainians have fled their homes due to Russia’s invasion, with 2.0 million people arriving in Poland.
