Marek Strzelecki & Branko Filipovic

PRZEMYSL (Poland/SIRET), Romania (Reuters) Thousands of more Ukrainian refugees fled into central and eastern Europe Wednesday. Many were without contacts or places to go and many had no other options. As host countries struggled to provide them with accommodation, they were often left in desperate situations.

The U.N. chief said that the U.N. has seen a rise in refugees since Russia invaded Ukraine. Filippo Grandi from the UNHCR Refugee Agency stated.

Most of them are mothers and children. Men stay at home to fight.

Grandi explained that so far most refugees went to their relatives or friends in Ukraine, not to the reception centres set up by authorities.

“This will allow them to feel at home, feel comfortable in their own environment, as well as less strain on the public service, which is very important to these countries,” he stated.

This is going to change, Grandi explained, as more refugees will arrive, Grandi adding that they need to be more realistic about the situation and plan accordingly.

Przemysl near Poland’s main border crossing is showing signs of this trend. It has also become an important refugee hub.

“At the beginning, approximately 90-95% people had somewhere to go. Now there are many more people searching for somewhere to go,” Mayor Wojciechbakun said to reporters as he spoke in front of the railway station that hosts refugees from Ukraine. “They have no friends or family.”

Alina Kondrashova (33), a doctor in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine, arrived in Przemysl Wednesday morning with her mother, three-year old, and sister. She was planning to take a bus to Estonia.

She said that although we don’t have any relatives there, my mother was there in Soviet times. There’s a place for her to stay.”

GIVING BLOOD

In central and eastern Europe, there were continued efforts to aid the Ukrainians.

Romanian authorities opened two centers for Ukrainian children in Bucharest. They can be played with and participate in activities for their families, who have been there for a few days, before moving on.

Refugees continued to travel from Ukraine by foot or car across the Siret border, many carrying bags and suitcases. Others carried their pets.

Warm drinks and food are offered to them by volunteer hosts who will smile at them. Ukrainian refugees can travel by train for free.

Lodz is a central Polish town asking residents not to give blood at this time because there have been too many donors in recent days. The agency is asking that people return to it later, when supplies are lower.

The central European population is still reminiscing about Moscow’s power after World War Two, and are even more angry at Russia’s incursion in Ukraine.

Moscow describes the action as a “special military operations” that aims to arm its neighbor and expel those it considers “neo Nazis”. Kyiv’s Western allies dismissed that as a pretext for an unprovoked military war against a country with 44 million inhabitants.

UNHCR plans to launch a cash program for refugees, which could allow them to pay rent in private housing. Grandi indicated that the cash programme will begin in Poland “hopefully by next week.” We will do our best to supplement the work of governments.

Although the United Nations plans assume that four million refugees will arrive, Grandi stated that this number may need to be increased.

Over 1.3 million Poles have entered Poland since war started. Close to 320,000 people crossed into Romania through Moldova (non-EU member Moldova), officials stated. 153,000 have entered Slovakia.