Polish charity to take in 2,000 Ukrainian orphans

Caritas says most of the children will come from heavily hit eastern Ukraine amid fears ‘humanitarian catastrophe approaching fast’

The Catholic charity Caritas Poland says it will take in 2,000 children from Ukrainian orphanages, with the first group of 300 arriving on Wednesday.

“Our eastern neighbours are talking about a humanitarian catastrophe that is approaching fast,” charity director Marcin I?ycki said.

“We have decided to respond to the crisis in Ukraine and provide shelter to the most vulnerable in our country.”

The children would come mainly from orphanages in eastern Ukraine, which has been worst affected by Russia’s assault on the country. The first group would be taken to Opole and Cz?stochowa in southern Poland and put up in charity centres and religious institutions.

More than 660,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia began its invasion and a million more are estimated to be displaced within the country.

The UN has warned of a humanitarian crisis and has called for $1.7bn in urgent aid, estimating that 12 million people will need support in Ukraine.