Chaired by Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, a meeting was held to discuss the problems of Ukrainian citizens temporarily residing in the territory of the Slovak Republic. In particular, the participants discussed the provision of transport for Ukrainians living in the Humanitarian Centre in Gabčikovo and other miscellaneous assistance. Nearly a thousand of our fellow citizens are currently living there. More than three hundred of them are children.
The meeting participants noted that most of the problems raised earlier were being successfully resolved.
For example, at the Humanitarian Centre in Gabčikovo, specialists provide Ukrainians with the necessary social and psychological support. In Dunajská Streda, a Ukrainian-speaking paediatrician sees children twice a week.
A special bus for Ukrainian citizens runs daily from Gabčikovo to Dunajská Streda and Bratislava in both directions.
Ukrainians travel to these cities for shopping, church services, holidays and tours. The buses are comfortable, and people are happy with them.
Iryna Vereshchuk thanked the representatives of the Slovak Republic, who were also present at the meeting, for the conditions created. Officials from the Ukrainian Embassy in Slovakia and delegated representatives of the Ukrainian community joined in the words of gratitude. According to the UN, there are more than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia.
“Slovakia bears a huge burden in terms of the number of people who have come here to escape the war. I would like to thank the Slovak people who, despite the economic difficulties, understand everything and help the Ukrainians,” the Deputy Prime Minister concluded.