SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 28 March 2024, Thursday |

Central European countries prepare to receive Ukrainian refugees

On Thursday, Central European nations readied for the arrival of migrants fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Poland establishing reception sites along its border and Hungary and Slovakia preparing to send military to manage the inevitable inflow.

The nations on the European Union’s eastern border were all members of the Warsaw Pact, which was governed by Moscow, and are now members of NATO. Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania, for example, all have land borders with Ukraine.

Earlier on Thursday, Russia started a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine by land, air, and sea, the worst attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II. It verified the West’s worst suspicions and fueled concerns of a major influx of migrants fleeing Ukraine, a country of 44 million people.

Poland demanded the “strongest conceivable measures” against Russia, while the Czech foreign minister described the invasion as a “barbaric act of aggression.”

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has also criticized Moscow’s actions. He stated that Hungary would prepare humanitarian help for Ukraine and would be willing to accept refugees.

Ukrainians started trickling into Poland, with dozens arriving at the normally quiet Medyka crossing on Thursday, some carrying luggage and accompanied by children.

HOSPITALS ON STANDBY

Polish hospitals were preparing beds for wounded Ukrainians, the health ministry said, and the Polish army raised the level of preparedness of some units.

“We will do everything to ensure that every person who enters the territory of Poland has access to healthcare, including hospitalization,” the ministry said.

Poland said it would set up reception points for refugees on its borders, PAP news agency quoted Polish Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Pawel Szefernaker as saying.

Small groups of people also fled into Hungary on Thursday through the Beregsurany crossing, some coming from as far as Kyiv, a Reuters eyewitness said. Some arrived by car, but many pedestrians were also hauling their suitcases across.

Slovakia said it was ready to help refugees.

“We can predict with near certainty that Russian aggression will drive out many Ukrainian women and men from their country,” Prime Minister Eduard Heger said. “Please let’s have compassion and understanding for them.”

Slovakia will send up to 1,500 troops to its border with Ukraine, where additional crossings will be set up, said Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad. Hungary has also said it will send troops to its border to help process refugees.

A Polish government spokesman said Polish diplomatic missions in Ukraine would remain open “as long as possible” but the foreign ministry urged all Polish citizens to leave Ukraine.

Hungary also said its embassy in Kyiv remained open. The Czech Republic closed its diplomatic mission, though its consulate in the west Ukrainian city of Lviv remained open.

Germany offered humanitarian help to countries bordering Ukraine. German media have cited estimates that between 200,000 and one million people may flee to the EU from Ukraine.

FLIGHTS, TRAIN SERVICES SUSPENDED

The Slovak railway halted services to Ukraine, and budget airline Wizz temporarily suspended all flights in and out of Ukraine. Czech Airlines also suspended flights as Ukraine closed its airspace.

Slovak news agency TASR reported there were waiting times of two to four hours for passenger cars at two main border crossings, while another crossing saw traffic flowing smoothly.

There are around 260,000 Ukrainians living in the Czech Republic, and tens of thousands working in Slovakia and Hungary, which has a large ethnic minority of around 140,000 living in Ukraine just beyond the border.

Romania is ready to grant humanitarian aid if needed, President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday. He also called for the “consistent consolidation” of NATO’s eastern flank.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said his country was preparing to evacuate by land more than 4,000 ethnic Bulgarians from Ukraine and was ready to host other Ukrainian refugees.

    Source:
  • Reuters