- Poland has been on the front line of humanitarian aid for Ukraine since the Russian aggression - said Minister Marlena Maląg during the meeting with Mathias Cormann, the Secretary General of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

During his visit to the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, Mathias Cormann learnt about the activities carried out by the government for Ukraine and its citizens staying in Poland.

This burden must be shared.

- Poland's humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine, its generosity and openness of the Poles are remarkable and impressive’ - said Secretary General Mathias Cormann.

He added that this burden must be shared across Europe. It is not a coincidence that the today's meeting and the international conference on refugees the OECD will lead tomorrow do take place in Warsaw, because their aim is exactly to identify needs in this area.

Stay, care, job

Minister Marlena Maląg presented the aid measures that are directed to the Ukrainian citizens who have been staying in Poland since 24 February.

- The most important were swift legislative measures to legalize the stay of such people - said Minister Maląg.

Granting the PESEL number does not only legalize the stay in the territory of Poland, but it also gives access to the labour market.

- Unemployment is low, so the Ukrainians wishing to work will find a job - said Minister Maląg. By doing so, we are also strengthening our economy. Our labour market has absorbed over 100 thousand of them so far. - If we estimate that approx. 500 thousand are capable to work, with the remaining ones being children and seniors, we will achieve a very good result within a short period of time - assessed the Minister.

Children in care

Deputy Minister Barbara Socha discussed the system of caring for those children who arrive from the Ukrainian children's homes or are unaccompanied. She said that the system consists of two pillars: evacuation and stay, and building a hub in Stalowa Wola.

- By a new special statute, we have introduced a new institution of temporary guardian - said Deputy Minister Socha. The orphans crossing the state border unaccompanied will gain a legal representative, which is indispensable for their further functioning, using the family benefits or education.

She also emphasized the close cooperation with Ukraine, including the accurate records of minors and the supervision over their place of stay or further movements.

Suppressing threads of the Russian propaganda

Janusz Cieszyński, the Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of the Council of Ministers responsible for IT tasks and the Government Plenipotentiary for Cybersecurity, presented the digital solutions that are used to identify those coming from Ukraine.

- While granting the PESEL number, we also get a biometric photograph and fingerprints, which allows us to build a reliable database - said Deputy Minister Cieszyński.  He added that most of the newcomers have already got the trusted profile that gives access to the state e-services, including the mobile application with the identity document. He informed that an online tool was under development, which would match employers with potential job seekers.

Deputy Minister Cieszynski also requested Secretary Mathias Cormann to launch transnational measures to limit the possibilities of disinformation during the information war conducted by Russia.

- We should jointly suppress threads of the Russian propaganda - called Deputy Minister Cieszyński.

Open schools

Wojciech Murdzek, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Science, discussed the integration of the Ukrainians into our education system, from pre-school education, through primary and secondary schools, to students and academics.

As early as the second day after the Russian aggression in February, the Minister of Education requested the rectors of the Polish universities to prepare places for Ukrainian students - recalled Deputy Minister Murdzek.

The Deputy Minister of Education and Science finds that the uneven distribution of the newcomers will become a challenge. - The Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship hosts ten times less refugees that the Mazowieckie Voivodeship - concluded the Deputy Minister. This also applies to those who should go to school. He added that the education institutions are assisted by the Ukrainian teachers and students and volunteers who can speak Ukrainian.

Who will support those providing help?

Deputy Minister Anna Schmidt stressed the importance of the international context of the Ukrainian situation.

Today Poland is one of the leading ambassadors of the Ukrainian independence case - said the Deputy Minister - this case however concerns the entire free and democratic world.

To make its help even more effective, Poland needs concrete material assistance from other states and international organizations.