Medyka is a town located in the southeast of Poland, next to the Ukrainian border. The Gmina Medyka commune is modest in size with a population of less than 7,000 residents, but has taken in a large share of Ukrainian refugees, which totaled over 6 million by May 2022.
While small in population, the Medyka town residents have shown overwhelming support to the arriving Ukrainian refugees. The Polish southeeast is known to be one of the less prosperous regions of Poland, but recent EU investments have afforded upgrading projects, such as a gymnasium which served as the main multipurpose reception centre in the early months of the war in Ukraine.
However, the disproportionate number of Ukrainian refugees has put a strain on the distribution of services and infrastructure capacity, despite Medyka largely being a transit location as refugees continue to larger cities across Poland. In an article published by UNICEF, a Coordinator at the Medyka transit centre remarked on the notable trend of children arriving in need of psychosocial support,
Medyka transit centre Coordinator, UNHCR
Implementing their response to the border crisis, UNHCR and UNICEF installed two RHUs at the Medyka reception centre, both of which serve as Blue Dots hubs for protection offices and child-friendly spaces. Arriving Ukrainians are able to receive meals, accommodation, vital care among other NFIs, as well as consultations on migration status and psychosocial counselling. Managed by both UNHCR and UNICEF, there has been particular attention provided to the protection and wellbeing of children, by equipping the RHUs with child-friendly furniture and play items.
Read more about UNHCR’s response in Medyka, Poland here.
Blue dots are safe space hubs implemented in collaboration between UNHCR, UNICEF and other partners to provide practical support for the most vulnerable people in their transit journey. Blue dots offer the refugees who require extra care, including unaccompanied children, women with children, victims of SGBV and people with disabilities, much needed access to critical information and specialised support services.
In ongoing coordination with national governments and local municipalities, Blue dots are set up most often at border crossings and areas of high refugee flow.
Read more about the Blue Dots hubs here.
Aleksandra Mrkela, UNHCR child protection staff at a Blue Dot Safe Space, Protection and Support Hub established at border crossing Medyka. Blue Dots are Safe Spaces, Protection and Support Hubs that bring together critical protection services and information for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, with a particular focus on children and those at greatest risk. These include unaccompanied and separated children, persons with disabilities, cases of suspected trafficking, survivors of sexual or gender-based violence and refugees from the LGBTIQ+ community. Established by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund, together with local authorities and partners along the major crossing points and transit routes, Blue Dots provide a safe space, support and referrals for health care, education, psychosocial support and more. ; By 20 May 2022, more than 14 million people had been forced to flee their homes due to the war in Ukraine, including 8 million displaced inside the country and more than 6 million border crossings of refugees leaving Ukraine. Poland has remained the main refugee-receiving country, with over 3.5 million border crossings from Ukraine into Poland since 24 February 2022. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been working closely with national authorities, local administrations, municipalities and civil society to receive refugees and provide critical services and much needed support.
Katsapaou is the Blue Dot Coordinator in Krakow. ; By 20 May 2022, more than 14 million people had been forced to flee their homes due to the war in Ukraine, including 8 million displaced inside the country and more than 6 million border crossings of refugees leaving Ukraine. Poland has remained the main refugee-receiving country, with over 3.5 million border crossings from Ukraine into Poland since 24 February 2022. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been working closely with national authorities, local administrations, municipalities and civil society to receive refugees and provide critical services and much needed support.
Mark Nzano, UNHCR staff at the Blue Dot Safe Space, Protection and Support Hub established at Medyka border crossing ; By 20 May 2022, more than 14 million people had been forced to flee their homes due to the war in Ukraine, including 8 million displaced inside the country and more than 6 million border crossings of refugees leaving Ukraine. Poland has remained the main refugee-receiving country, with over 3.5 million border crossings from Ukraine into Poland since 24 February 2022. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been working closely with national authorities, local administrations, municipalities and civil society to receive refugees and provide critical services and much needed support.
