Data provided by the UN Refugee Agency reveals that more than half of the people who have fled Ukraine in the last 12 days took refuge in Poland. As of the 7th of March, the total amount of refugees who fled Ukraine was estimated at around 1,6 million

Filippo Grandi, UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, described this massive population movement as “the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II”.

On average, around 120,000 refugees from Ukraine have been entering Polish territory on a daily basis for the last few days. The proportion of them who remained in Poland is still to be confirmed. Several specialists estimate that nearly half of them already left the country. 

The figures are indeed massive. This led many observers to wonder how come there are (still) no so-called refugee camps in Poland. The answer for that is to be found in the unprecedented nationwide Polish authorities and people in general who welcome refugees in their own homes. 

Nevertheless, as in every war, propaganda plays an important role. In this context, Polish authorities had to reject false claims that they would have discriminated against extra-European refugees at the border. 

This fake news has been repeated countless times in different mainstream media across the world. However, numerous testimonies, as well as video evidence, shows that it is a complete lie. 

Poland and its Central European neighbours are showing an inspiring example to the whole world in the midst of a crisis that is reshaping the geopolitical reality of our continent. 

Image: Twitter @terytorialsi

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen