The Polish Red Cross sprang into action within the first hours of the armed conflict by organizing reception and medical points at the Polish-Ukrainian border. Red Cross volunteers distributed food, drinking water, blankets, warm clothing to people fleeing from Ukraine, while also offering assistance in contacting loved ones with whom they were separated during evacuation.

As early as February 2022, the first humanitarian shipments under the sign of the Red Cross were sent to Ukraine. Since then the Red Cross has delivered nearly 6 thousand tons of aid in over 1000 shipments. This included food, medicines, hygiene products, industrial power generators that allow schools and hospitals to operate, as well as construction materials, which were used to rebuild the devastated Bucha.

The Polish Red Cross has supported 2 million people, and the value of the assistance provided has exceeded 300 million PLN. For the entire movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the assistance to Ukraine is the largest and most difficult humanitarian operation conducted since World War II.

"As part of the operation, 60 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies have raised 2.3 billion Swiss francs worldwide for humanitarian aid to Ukraine" – summarizes Kate Forbes, president of IFRC.

The Polish Red Cross, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), through the program “Restoring Family Links,” helps reconnect families separated by the armed conflict in Ukraine, assisting refugees and internally displaced persons in Ukraine. So far, search procedures have been initiated for 647 people, of which 191 have been positively resolved.

The Polish Red Cross also provides assistance to elderly people and those with health problems, for whom independent travel to relatives would be impossible. So far, 105 humanitarian shipments have been conducted. Additionally, the Red Cross helps with the purchase of rehabilitation equipment and covers the costs of transporting bodies or urns from Poland to Ukraine.

Initially, the priority was to provide humanitarian aid; today – 3 years after the outbreak of the armed conflict, the most important thing is long-term socio-professional integration. Thanks to comprehensive support programs, the Red Cross enables people from Ukraine to stabilize and develop, offering them the opportunity for education and acquiring new skills, as well as assistance in entering the job market, or support in renting apartments" – says Michał Mikołajczyk, member of the Main Board of the Polish Red Cross.

Today, the Red Cross emphasizes support that enables Ukrainians to become self-sufficient. As part of initiatives such as "Together to Independence", "A Chance for a New Start", "Health Matters" or the project "Livelihoods", refugees receive comprehensive assistance in education, employment, and healthcare.

The Polish Red Cross operates Integration Centers throughout Poland, which have become places for meetings and community building. Professional workshops, activities for children, and language courses are organized there. Thanks to this, participants in Red Cross programs have the opportunity to acquire new skills while also establishing contacts that help them better adapt to life in Poland. Every month nearly 4 thousand people use the Red Cross Integration Centers.

The armed conflict in Ukraine has left a mark on the psyche of millions of people. As part of the project EU4Health, psychological support has been provided for over 4100 people affected by the armed conflict in Ukraine, residing in Poland, and nearly 900 people have been trained in psychological first aid.

Assistance is provided both in person and by phone. The Red Cross has launched a free helpline available from Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. At the number +48 800 088 136 (for calls from Poland) and +48 221 520 620 (for calls from abroad), people in need can receive informational and psychological assistance from trained specialists.

After three years, the challenges remain enormous. Millions of people are displaced, struggling to rebuild their lives in new countries of residence. Without savings and with rising living costs, many have no choice but to return home. But the return is no longer the same as before — homes, schools, hospitals, and sources of livelihood have been destroyed. Access to healthcare and education is a daily struggle for them. Therefore, assistance is vital both in the countries where refugees reside and in Ukraine itself.

The Polish Red Cross has received a prestigious award for its work, the International Humanitarian Service Award, awarded in Washington by the American Red Cross.

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