War in Ukraine: the Polish city of Krakow overwhelmed by refugees

Ukrainian refugees sleep in Krakow train station, March 6, 2022. AFP - LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

More than three million Ukrainians fled the war in their country.

Main destination: neighboring Poland.

After a first stop at the border, many head to Warsaw or Krakow, the second largest city in the country, where there is already a strong Ukrainian community.

But the city is now saturated, according to the town hall.

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With our Krakow special correspondent,

Murielle Paradon

In Krakow station, hundreds of Ukrainian refugees.

Some are waiting for a train, others sleep here for lack of space in a tent erected outside or in the shopping center next door.

100,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the city since the start of the war, which is 10% of the population.

Today, Krakow is saturated, according to Mateus Ploskonka, deputy director of social affairs at the town hall.

“

The first wave went to relatives, family, then we offered accommodation in hotels, in centers, where they are still.

But for three days, we no longer have any free places in the city

,” he laments.

►Also read: War in Ukraine: Poland, Germany and Israel overwhelmed by the growing influx of refugees

Krakow City Hall is trying to find accommodation in other cities in Poland.

It is also in contact with European cities, but the refugees do not want to go far.

“

We try to organize groups of refugees to send them by bus or train abroad, but the problem is that they don't want to leave.

They want to stay close to the Ukrainian border because most are already thinking of returning

,” explains Mateus Ploskonka.

Wherever they are housed, most Ukrainian refugees do not plan to stay outside their country for long.

All of our daily, live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

© FMM Graphic Studio

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  • Ukraine

  • Poland

  • Russia

  • Refugees