Luba and Romchik are part of a new wave of Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Since February 2024, more than 6.8 million refugees have left Ukraine—that’s more than 15% of the country’s population and more than the populations of Chicago and Los Angeles combined.
Nearly a million of them remain in Poland. While many arrived in 2022 at the start of the renewed conflict, the need for aid continues.
“Every day we receive people from Ukraine asking for help. They are desperate, in very bad mental and physical condition. And the support offered to them is being reduced,” said Igor Horkow, chairman of the Przemysl section of the Association of Ukrainians in Poland.
CARE Poland is currently the only organization providing cash assistance to new refugees entering Poland. Similar programs run by other NGOs have been closed, mostly due to lack of funding.
“Thanks to our partnership with AUP and Santander Bank, we are able to send humanitarian assistance in the form of cash to eligible refugees in less than 24 hours. This is critically important in ensuring that those fleeing conflict and crisis can meet their urgent needs—whether for food, shelter, or medical care—without unnecessary delays,'” said Piotr Sasin, country Director at CARE Poland.
“Swift financial support provides dignity and choice, allowing refugees to decide what is best for their families in a time of uncertainty. At CARE, we remain committed to delivering life-saving aid efficiently, ensuring no one is left behind,” he explained.
The number of people leaving Ukraine for the EU for the first time increased by one-third month-to-month, to 24% in December 2024. Approximately 3,000 Ukrainians apply for temporary protection in Poland each month. Almost all new refugees interviewed by the UNHCR say the deteriorating situation at the front as their reason for leaving.
