Poland doing its best to help children from war-torn Ukraine, official tells UN

Poland is doing its best to help children from war-torn Ukraine, an official has told the United Nations Security Council.

Poland and its people are making every effort to help children from war-torn Ukraine, an official has told the United Nations Security Council.

Photo: Pixabay

Joanna Skoczek made the statement in a speech to the UN body on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

The Security Council convened to discuss the situation of children following Russia's aggression against Ukraine, officials said.

Poland making 'every effort' to help refugees from Ukraine

Skoczek, Poland’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, told the meeting that “more than 3.3 million people, mostly women and children, have crossed from Ukraine,” seeking refuge in her country.

“Poland, both as a state and a society, is making every effort to meet their needs,” she declared

200,000 refugee children in Polish schools

Skoczek told the UN Security Council that “some 200,00 refugee children from Ukraine are in Polish schools … 20 percent of them attend preparatory classes and 80 percent attend regular classes with Polish children.” 

In addition, "an online platform offering free educational tools was created,” she said.

Skoczek added that “in times of war, classrooms should provide children with a sense of stability and act as a safe space to learn.”

She condemned Russian attacks against Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals and orphanages, stressing that "the perpetrators must be held accountable."  

#UNSC briefing on #Ukraine🇺🇦 |
🇵🇱 DPR @joanna_skoczek underlined that 🏫 provide children w/ education but also play a much bigger role in their lives. In times of war, classrooms can & should give children a sense of stability & be a safe space to learn & to process the trauma. pic.twitter.com/3Ol1eYSBkA

— Poland in the UN (@PLinUN) May 12, 2022

Poles 'doing best they can' to help Ukrainian children

Skoczek also stated that “the Polish people are doing the best they can, offering children from Ukraine safety within their homes and families, and a normal life, with its duties and joys.” 

💬Across #Ukraine🇺🇦, hundreds of schools🏫🎒 have been destroyed by Russian shelling and air strikes. Many classrooms are simply unusable after being damaged or destroyed.#Poland🇵🇱 condemns in the strongest terms the attacks against civilians and civilian objects.#NotATarget pic.twitter.com/PInbgdiqxp

— Poland in the UN (@PLinUN) May 12, 2022

“We hope we are able to save at least part of their dreams, and their childhood,” she concluded.  

Russians killing children in Ukraine: UN

Meanwhile, Omar Abdi, deputy executive director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), told the Council that according to UN data, nearly 100 children have been killed in Ukraine during the last month alone.

He added: “We believe the actual figures to be considerably higher.”

Schools "continue to be attacked and used for military purposes,” Abdi said, adding that the war in Ukraine, "like all wars, is a child protection and child rights crisis.”

Friday is day 79 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Poland on Friday reported it had welcomed nearly 3.34 million refugees fleeing Russia's war on Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, un.org