‘It really hurts to see kids in such a position’

Humanitarian effort: Ahmad and Duane (inset) say the Polish community and the government have been helping Ukrainian refugees.

PETALING JAYA: The image of little children sleeping on the floor of the Warsaw Central Railway Station broke the heart of Malaysian student Duane Muruga Raj Jr, who volunteered to assist Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

“Honestly, I’m really saddened by this. It breaks my heart every time I see them sleeping on the floor of the railway station. It really hurts to see those innocent kids in such a position,” he said when contacted.

Since the Russian conflict with Ukraine late February, Warsaw Central Railway train station – which is located in the heart of Poland’s capital city – has seen a steady stream of Ukrainian refugees carrying bags full of possessions and seeking aid.

The 20-year-old student said as an aspiring doctor, he wants to do as much as he can for the refugees.

“Refugees in Warsaw are in need of food, proper shelter and medicine.

“Some of them are either waiting to go back to Ukraine to their homes, if the war stops, while some of them are moving to countries like Italy, Germany or even (other parts of) Poland, to try and start a new life again,” he added.

Duane said he decided to join Team Ukraine Love, a collaborative initiative by Adventures For Change and Yes theory, to help those in need.

“Since March 9, we delivered 1,950 meals from McDonald’s to the children staying at refugee centres in Warsaw and at the Warsaw Railway Central Station.

“We also helped send some necessities, such as powerbanks, sleeping bags and medical equipment to the Polish-Ukrainian border,” he said.

More than 4.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the conflict erupted in late February.

The vast majority, some 2.6 million, have travelled to Poland. Romania has seen the second-largest influx.

University student Ahmad Muslihuddin Mohd Nurkhuzaini, 24, said the Polish community and the government had been accepting the Ukrainian refugees.

“I can say that most universities as well as organisations in Poland have given a lot of basic necessities and provide food to them.

“A majority of the universities in Poland are also involved in helping the refugees through volunteerism by local and foreign students.

“The Polish government also provides free passes to the Ukrainian refugees to use public services not only in Warsaw and Krakow but throughout the country,” said the Vistula University Student.

“When they arrive during the weekend, some Polish people will carry and wave the Ukrainian flag while chanting ‘Slava Ukraina’, which translates to ‘Save Ukraine’,” said Ahmad.

He pointed out that there were many movements on social media in Poland to help the refugees find a home or a temporary place to stay.

Another Malaysian, Eric H, 37 – who has been working in Warsaw for more than five years as a compliance analyst – said the Polish government and its people had been helping the refugees from Ukraine.

“They are welcome here and the government together with the local community are doing their best to provide support in terms of shelter as well as food.

“Recently, Polish government released a guide on how to prepare for crisis and war,” he said.