WHO and Statistics Poland will share the results of a survey conducted in collaboration to obtain basic information about Ukrainian refugees who left their country through the Polish–Ukrainian border, with a particular focus on their health needs.
The outbreak of war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022 caused an abrupt and unprecedented influx of millions of Ukrainian refugees into Poland. This mass displacement of people – the largest in Europe since the Second World War – has placed an enormous strain on local and national public services, creating many challenges for the state administration in Poland. The sheer scale of population movement is impacting the labour market, the education system and, in particular, the health-care system.
Polish authorities and international partners quickly recognized a lack of data about the newly arrived refugees. To gather credible and reliable information about their needs, the Statistical Office in Rzeszów collaborated closely with WHO and the Statistical Office in Lublin. The organizations designed and conducted a survey in the border provinces of Podkarpackie and Lubelskie to identify the needs and health status of the Ukrainian refugees there, and the expected scope of the long-term assistance and support they will require.
“The state- and municipal-level governors have an important role in emergencies. City councils can help connect refugees to health and other services, thereby creating safer and more inclusive communities,” explained Dr Paloma Cuchí, WHO Representative in Poland.
“Access to valid, accurate and timely information is essential to planning and executing the humanitarian response. Statistics Poland’s experience, capacity and presence at the Polish–Ukrainian border were key factors in undertaking such a large and comprehensive survey of a highly mobile population scattered throughout Poland. This required a tailored methodology and instruments to gather the relevant and necessary information to plan the response. The collaboration between Statistics Poland and WHO has been very successful, and the survey results will be useful for all parties involved in the response,” Dr Cuchí added.
The survey results will be shared at a hybrid event with the following programme:
09:00 – registration
10:00–10:30 – opening session
10:30–11:30 – presentation of findings from the survey
11:45–13:20 – moderated discussion
13:20–13:45 – question-and-answer session
13:45–14:15 – closing session.
The event will take place in Warsaw, Poland, and will be held in English. To attend virtually, please fill out the registration form via the link. A recording of the event will also be posted on the Statistics Poland YouTube channel.