Agata Kornhauser–Duda and Elke Büdenbender on Tuesday discussed humanitarian aid for refugees with delegates from Caritas Polska and Renovabis, Poland's PAP news agency reported.
Held at Warsaw's Belweder Palace, the meeting was part of the German presidential couple’s visit to Poland on Tuesday.
Support for most vulnerable refugees
The talks between the two first ladies and the charities focused on “the needs of refugees, especially those evacuated from specialist centres, children’s homes or social-care facilities,” according to officials.
Such individuals “often require special transport and round-the-clock care,” Poland’s presidential office said in a statement.
Polish, German first ladies join forces
Thanks to the joint efforts of Kornhauser–Duda and Büdenbender, a group of Ukrainian orphans with severe disabilities, who had been staying in the southeastern Polish city of Stalowa Wola, was transferred to a centre in Koblenz, western Germany, officials told reporters.
In addition, German hospitals have admitted many young cancer patients from Ukraine, the Polish presidential office said.
Tuesday’s meeting also explored ways to accommodate potential new evacuees with disabilities, as well as their carers, PAP reported.
Kornhauser-Duda thanked Caritas Polska and Renovabis for offering social, cultural and educational assistance to Ukrainian mothers with children, according to officials.
Afterwards, the Polish and German first ladies met with Ukrainian refugees hosted by the Felician Sisters in Warsaw.
They also visited the Children's Memorial Health Institute in the Polish capital, whose patients include people who fled the Russian invasion, the Polish presidential office said.
Büdenbender vowed that “Germany and Poland will continue to work together to support those in need,” PAP reported.
Wednesday is day 49 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Poland on Wednesday reported it had welcomed 2.7 million refugees fleeing Russia's attack on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, prezydent.pl