The Polish authorities would allocate 8 billion zlotys (about $1.75 billion) to help Ukrainians fleeing the country amid Russia’s special military operation, Polish Government spokesman, Lukasz Schreiber, said on Monday.
Schreiber told Polish newspaper, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, that the country’s government is preparing a special law on financial assistance to Ukrainian refugees.
According to the spokesman, it will provide for a trust fund, which first should be replenished in the amount of almost eight billion zlotys.’’
“This amount should be enough for the first weeks,’’ Schreiber said, adding that the fund can always be topped up.
The spokesman explained that the main task for the Polish government is “to provide refugees with a roof over their heads and food.’’
According to the Polish Border Guard, over one million Ukrainian citizens have entered Poland since the beginning of Russia’s military operation.
On Feb. 24, Russia began a military operation to denazify Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the operation was targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population was not in danger.
Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 1.7 million people have already left Ukraine to neighbouring countries.