POLAND’S TRANSPORT MINISTER has welcomed any Irish intervention which would see pressure taken off Poland’s borders as refugees flee the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to our reporter who is on the Poland-Ukraine border, Minister Andrzej Adamczyk said all efforts would be greatly appreciated.
At a press conference today outside Przesmyl Train Station, the Ministers of Transport from Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Czech Republic gathered to speak about assistance needed to support those on the borders with Ukraine.
The Minister of Transport for the Czech Republic warned that they are reaching their capacity to deal with the huge influx of refugees.
Speaking to The Journal about Irish efforts, Adamczyk said: “Any assistance which can be offered, any help which can be offered to ourselves in helping refugees, but also any assistance and help provided to Ukrainian people in Ukraine will be accepted, we will be happy to take it.
If there are any options available for us to cooperate with Irish ministry of transport, we will be happy to work together.
Over 2.5 million people have so far fled Ukraine since war began late last month. However, that number is expected to grow significantly, according to the UN, in what is being called the largest refugee crisis since World War II.
In Ireland, there have been calls for the Government to engage further with migrant groups to improve integration for arriving refugees.
Integration Manager for Immigrant Council of Ireland Teresa Buczkowska told RTÉ’s Saturday with Katie Hannon programme there are community based organisations around the country “who have the cultural knowledge and know what it is like to be a migrant in Ireland”, who need to be brought in to help.
A similar call has been made by the Sanctuary Runners group, which works with people based in Direct Provision.Its founder and CEO Graham Clifford told the same programme there are established Polish and Lithuanian communities which are not being engaged.
Clifford added that the GAA, on a local basis, can have a strong role to play in welcoming refugees.
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