In view of the emergency situation on the Ukrainian-Polish border, a fact-finding team from the aid organisation @fire - Internationaler Katastrophenschutz Deutschland e.V. in cooperation with the Björn Steiger Foundation and the Institute for European Affairs - INEA - is currently on mission in the Polish border town of Chelm to identify humanitarian needs. The assignment is carried out at the request of the City President.
The town of Chelm is located at the northernmost of eight Polish-Ukrainian border crossings. In the Lublin Voivodeship, the city is one of the first reception centres that refugees reach - by trains, buses and private cars. Every day, thousands of refugees - mainly mothers with children - arrive in the city of 65,000 inhabitants. They are provided with meals and accommodation and, if necessary, receive primary health care.
Based on the needs identified and in consultation with the City President, a relief operation may follow, if necessary, to assist the city in caring for and providing for the incoming refugees.