Polish/ Ukrainian Border Crossing- Medyka

I traveled by train in Poland from Warsaw to Krakow and on to Przemysl. From there it is a short drive to the border crossing at Medyka. The first thing noticeable at the pedestrian border was a large number of tents providing food, water and medical support. Relief agencies from all over the world, including the Egyptian Red Crescent, Israeli Medical, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and World Central Kitchens have a presence. It was impressive to see the humanitarian response at this chilly border crossing.

As soon as the refugees exited the tented area after crossing by foot, buses are waiting to take them to the train station a few miles away in Przemysl. There were more food tents there for those forced to wait for an extended period for trains to take them elsewhere in Poland. At train stations everywhere in Poland, a small army of volunteers provides further support with train schedules, baggage and even toys for Ukrainians suddenly adrift.

Once on the trains, mostly women and children are sent all over the country to be met by Polish hosts. It is so well organized that within days, Ukrainian children are attending schools in Poland. A friend living near Warsaw told me that his son's 2nd grade class has 2 Ukrainian children and there are about 30 in the school. He told me that this is repeated throughout Poland.

I spent some time talking to relief organizations, taking photos and videos. Then I dragged by bag and the medical supplies that I brought from the U.S. across the border. The actual crossing was an unusual mix of people. There were a few Ukrainians who lived near the border returning with items they had purchased in Poland, one American (?) man who appeared to be a fighter coming across to help fight and woman and her teen-aged grandson. They were from the U.S. and Malissa (non-traditional spelling) was a very experienced burn nurse. She traveled with her grandson to Poland and now were entering Ukraine to offer her services.

Also, while I was waiting at Polish passport control, I saw a young woman from the Israeli medical team and a Polish officer engaged in very friendly conversation. The cameraderie that I saw among the relief agencies and this flirtation in a region that has seen hundreds of years of pogroms, Soviet repression of the Poles, the Holodymr and Holocaust gave me a few minutes of hope.

This was shaken out of me quickly. I exited the border crossing and saw thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war. A few meters away, I spoke to two Ukrainian men waiting at the curb for a ride. We asked each other our destinations. "Lviv" I said. "Kherson" was the grim reply. They didn't need to tell me that they were going to find family and fight the Russian Army.