Olha Stefanishyna met with Ukrainian women who were forced to leave for France due to hostilities

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna met with Ukrainian women who were forced to leave for France due to hostilities. The conversation took place in an apart-hotel, where about 300 people, mostly women with small children, found temporary shelter.

The participants of the meeting spoke about the circumstances that forced them to flee their homes, and expressed hope that they will be able to return home soon. Among the issues discussed were:

• continuing education of children,

• employment opportunities,

• repair and reconstruction of destroyed housing.

Olha Stefanishyna noted that these issues would be considered at the interdepartmental working group on the protection of the rights of Ukrainians abroad. Irpen Mayor Oleksandr Markushin also took part in the meeting.

The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the social workers, Groupe SOS volunteers for caring for Ukrainians, and the prefecture of the Val-d'Oise department.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister visited a logistics humanitarian hub set up in the suburbs of Paris by the French National Civil Protection Federation (FNPC) with the support of the Association of Mayors of France and the French Railways.

Olha Stefanishyna discussed the work of the hub and further plans to support Ukraine with François Richez, President of the Federation, Hervé Bidault de l'Isle, Secretary General of the Federation, and Valérie Pécresse, President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France and her delegation.

"I feel great solidarity with Ukraine here. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I express my gratitude to France for its support, assistance in resisting the aggressor and readiness to work together to rebuild Ukraine. Solidarity, mutual assistance, care for people are the European values that Ukraine defends today," the official said and invited to Ukraine.

They reaffirmed the importance of developing a regional partnership and involving the French regions more in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the war, the Federation has set up 5,000 collection points for humanitarian aid throughout France and two large logistics hubs in Strasbourg and Paris. Every day, 2,000 volunteers collect, sort, pack and ship humanitarian supplies. 8,000 tons of aid have already been collected from individuals and entrepreneurs.

In parallel with the collection of humanitarian aid, the National Civil Protection Federation organized shelter for thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the war. The specially equipped center housed 3,250 displaced Ukrainians, including 740 children.