Anna Wlodarczak­Semczuk (Semczuk), Karol Badohal, and Luiza Illie

WARSAW/BUCHAREST, (Reuters) – More than 3.5 Million people fled Ukraine after the conflict in Ukraine. This was according to United Nations data on Tuesday. It leaves Eastern Europe struggling to offer them care and schools, jobs, as well as a decrease in daily border crossings.

Many millions of Ukrainians have fled Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. The majority of people have not yet done this.

Although fewer people have traveled across borders in the last week, it is increasingly clear that the enormity of the challenge of providing safety for those looking to flee danger in Europe’s Union is being faced, especially in Eastern and Central Europe.

Poland was the home of the largest Ukrainian diaspora before World War II. It has now taken in over 2.1 million people. While some are planning to move elsewhere, public services have struggled to keep up with the demand.

Przemyslaw Ciarnek, Minister of Education, stated that the number of Ukrainian refugees in Polish schools was increasing by approximately 10,000 per day. He also said that 85,000 children were enrolled in Polish schools.

Czarnek claimed that the authorities are organising basic Polish courses for Ukrainian teachers to allow them to work in local schools as well as teach Ukrainian students in preparatory classes before they enter the school system.

Due to the fact that men in their conscription years are obliged to continue in Ukraine as they were, there has been an exodus of women, children and other minorities. They want to be close to family members who have left Ukraine.

Rafal Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw, stated in a Twitter video (NYSE:) that 10,000 Ukrainians had been enrolled in Warsaw schools. That a wide range of options was needed, including online Ukrainian classes to keep the education system from collapsing.

He stated that “we will be flexible and we will act because we want all the young people in Warsaw be able study whatever option they choose.”

Romania has been the refugee destination for more than half a million people, ranking second to Poland. They are trying to determine the best way to help the victims and to find teachers to teach the children.

Cosmina simiean Nicolescu is the head of Bucharest’s social assistance department. She said that sixty Ukrainian children have started school there since this week. Many private schools and kindergartens also welcome refugees.

Nicolescu stated that refugees are returning to Romania because they believe it will provide a better life.

She said, “There are people who have been on trains going to the west and we meet them back at the station.”

NEW REALITY

Fluchting from missile and shell attacks in war-torn Ukraine is a difficult task that goes beyond education.

To help those who are mentally ill, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has organized training in psychological first aid near the border of Poland and Ukraine.

PalomaCuchi, the representative of the World Health Organization in Poland, estimates that 30,000 people arrived with severe mental disorders, while half a million required mental health support because of the conflict.

She stated, “Children have been on the move for days without food and water. They feel tired and worried.”

Barbara Slowinska (a school psychologist) said that staff from elementary school 26 in Gdynia Poland worked hard to help 60 Ukrainian children integrate.

“We talk to the kids a lot, as often as possible,” she stated, noting that adapting to new environments was her primary concern.

“They won’t discuss traumatic events.” Slowinska stated that we should calm them down in light of their actual reality in Poland.

It will, however, come. They must accept the truth for now.

Officials are concerned that an increase in fighting in Ukraine might cause a surge in people crossing border points like Isaccea, northeast Romania and Medyka in eastern Poland.

Filippo Grandi is the head of UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency. He stated on Sunday that 10 million people had been displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Russia claims it has not targeted civilians and describes its actions to be a special military operation in order demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. The West and its allies in Ukraine call it a pretext for Russia to invade a democracy.