Refugees from Ukraine seek shelter in Poland. How to search for accommodation?

Women with children, as well as senior citizens are escaping from war-torn Ukraine. According to information provided by the Polish Border Guard (on Tuesday, March 9), more than a million Ukrainian citizens have entered Poland since Feb. 24. In a brief guide below we offer some advice on where and how to seek accommodation.

The first places of contact are the reception points. People working there can refer refugees to temporary residence places, located for instance at sport arenas. The full list of reception points along with links to a map can be found at www.gov.pl.

Due to Russian aggression against Ukraine, Poland's Ministry of foreign Affairs has launched a pomagamukrainie.gov.pl website, through which help is also coordinated. A form to fill is available at the website for all those in need of help and those offering it. Through the website, refugees can receive help in finding accommodation.

Residents of many Polish cities, towns, and villages also offer place to stay. To reach out to such people, it's best to contact institutions cooperating with local governments. Many local administration offices have compiled lists of people offering accommodation. There is no one central system for all help offered, but local governments keep on trying to work out their own solutions.

Here's a list of Poland's biggest cities and information on where to get help in finding accomodation:

Gdańsk. Help can be found at the Center for Information and Coordination "Gdańsk helps Ukraine". Also a special accommodation browser has been launched. If you want to use it, you must register at the noclegiukraina.qb.com.pl website.

Gdynia. A 24/7 hotline for refugees in Ukrainian language has been launched at: +48 723 236 666.

Białystok. Dialog Foundation helps in finding shelter by offering supported apartments and running a "Home of Friends" programme. Also residents ready to host refugees at their homes reach out to the foundation. Call at: 85 742 40 41, or send an email to ukraina@fundacjadialog.pl. A special 24/7 hotline is also available at: +48 603 660 052.

Lublin. Accommodation issues are coordinated by the City Family Support Centre, together with Crisis Intervention Centre workers and volunteers, who can be reached at: +48 533 39 15 69.

Kraków. Refugees who have registered at the reception point upon entering Poland, can send accommodation search notices at: czk@malopolska.uw.gov.pl or ukraina@muw.pl.

Rzeszów. Local authorities recommend using the free-of-charge www.uasos.org portal.

Katowice. A 24/7 hotline is available in Ukranian language at: +48 32 737 87 87.

Warsaw. Help in finding accommodation can be found at the Multicultural Centre and at the Ukrainian House "Our Choice" - a 24/7 hotline has been launched in Polish and Ukrainian: +48 727 805 764. Furthermore, accommodation help is offered by Caritas Polska at the Migrants and Refugees Help Centre in Warsaw at 3/5 Grzybowski Square.

Poznań. Help related to finding accommodation can be found only at a reception point in the eastern hall of the Poznań International Fair at 14 Głogowska Street (close to Poznań Główny railway station).

Łódź. A hotline in Ukrainian language is available at: +48 42 638 59 95 (between 8:00 and 20:00) and +48 42 664 10 81. Requests for support can also be sent through email at lodzkiedlaukrainy@lodz.uw.gov.pl.

Opole. A 24/7 hotline has been launched at: + 48 881 320 160 and + 48 881 320 165.

Wrocław. City authorities encourage refugees seeking accommodation to register through the official government website pomagamukrainie.gov.pl or at the uasos.org portal.

Zielona Góra. Information on accommodation can by calling Lubuskie Voivodeship Office at: 95 785 18 59 (hotline is operating in Polish language). Another hotline has been launched, operated by a Refugee Support Point: +48 687 662 349 (hotline is operating mainly in Polish, but with the help of volunteers speaking Ukrainian).

A list of all hotlines open for refugees can be found at www.gov.pl.

Recently, also a special UA SOS platform has been launched, at which refugees can find free accommodation offered by people and institutions offering help. The project is supported by institutions which enjoy a high public trust: Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH), the Noble Gift charity, the Association of Ukrainians in Poland, and the Union of Polish Metropolises. To receive help, you have to create an account at the uasos.org portal. How does it work? Each person who wants to offer help posts detailed information at the platform regarding the number of offered places, location, and time period. Those seeking accommodation, on the other hand, will automatically receive the best matching offers, once they have specified their criteria.