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Polish foundation helps Ukrainian children

04.03.2022 17:00
A Polish foundation called Happy Kids says it has brought more than 1,000 children from Ukrainian orphanages to Poland since Russia invaded Ukraine more than a week ago.
Photo:
Photo:EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES

The latest group, which arrived in the northeastern Polish city of Białystok at 2 a.m. on Friday, comprised 22 children between 3 and 18 years of age, supervised by six adults.

They came from the towns of Dnipro and Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine.

They were given accommodation in a building that once served as a children’s home. A deputy mayor of Białystok, who coordinated the arrival of the refugees, has told the media that the children are in "good physical and psychological condition," with smiles appearing on the faces of the younger kids and the older ones asking for internet access.

The official said an internet connection would be provided soon, asking anyone wishing to help to donate laptops and smartphones, but refrain from visiting in person.

“What these children need first and foremost is peace and quiet, rest and sleep,” he said.

Another group arrived a day earlier in the central Polish city of Łódź, where the Happy Kids foundation is based.

That group included 38 children between ages 3 and 15, accompanied by three caregivers. An 18-strong team of volunteers working for the foundation have been helping with all arrangements related to their stay.

A member of the foundation's staff said the evacuation of children from war-torn Ukraine was a "highly difficult" operation.

(mk/gs)