Driver's guide
Do you want to bring someone from the border? Below is a specific guide on how to do it from the person who does it.
During the weekend, I traveled across the border, transporting refugees from Ukraine into the interior of the country.
A few of my first-hand observations - a small guide for people who would like to help with the transport of people, but do not know how to start.
1. First of all - be prepared for the fact that so far the actions are not very well coordinated (this is not a complaint - coordinating all of this is a huge challenge), so act, but also think.
2. From what I have seen, the needs related to transporting people from the border into Poland are practically unlimited ... So if you have a car and some free time - go. But with your head. Driving ‘blind’ directly to the border crossing, in a situation where you do not have ‘recorded’ specific perception of people, makes no sense. At the border crossing in Hrebenne, for example, the whole tiny town is crammed with cars and people, it is difficult to drive in and out, the police try to control it as much as possible. So if you have an appointment to pick someone up - go. And if you don't - go to one of the collection points located at the border crossing points (e.g. for Hrebenne it is a school in Lubycza Królewska, a few kilometers from the border)! There, people who somehow got across the border are waiting for transport onwards. There is a lot of information on Facebook about transport needs, search in groups, that's how I found passengers.
3. Virtually only women and children are to be transported, rather young and middle-aged women (older people stayed at home). Occasionally, men (mostly foreigners who were caught by the war) and young men are usually forbidden to leave.
4. Prepare for yourself (e.g. with the help of one of the citizens of Ukraine) a large card in Ukrainian with the information that you offer transport, how many places, where (cities, including cities on the planned route), do you have child seats (most of the refugees are children) and the note ‘free’ (in Ukraine alone, fraudsters charge huge sums of money for transporting people. It is very unpleasant, but this is the reality of war ... ). While it is usually easier for them to get to large cities, e.g. by train, to smaller, more provincial cities it is more difficult.
5. Most people cross the border on foot. With nothing. I was taking my mother with three 6-9 years old boys who had only a small backpack and what they were wearing. They travel like this not (only) because they are poor people, but also for practical reasons, it is easier without luggage ... and they themselves do not know how much time and kilometers they will have to wander and wait (at the border you will wait at least a few hours). So you don't need a huge luggage space for them. But the more places in the car, the better. That's why it's worth going alone, and if you are afraid, for example, it is a maximum of two people. Or preferably two cars.
6. These people don't need anything in the beginning. They are exhausted. The kids fall asleep immediately after several hours on the way. They don't even take off their jackets. They are freezing, waiting for hours at the border and then in Poland. They are asking for nothing. As a rule, they do not want to eat anything, especially at the beginning of the journey. They want to sleep and feel calm, safe and warm. However, it is worth taking a drink, food (both rich and sweets: a thermos with tea, disposable cups, milk bottle for newborns, any powdered milk, diapers - several sizes, wet wipes, thermos with hot water, cream for burns, blanket, cold and fever medications, empty bags, toilet coins, phone charging cables).
7. If you give your children some sweets, the ones they can put in their pockets and eat later. Children may be ashamed to eat with you.
8. If the adults do not want to talk, then do not press, do not talk excessively. Take care, if possible without emotions (as long as they are with you).
9. Fuel up at least 50 km before the border. There are no queues in Toruń, and in Rzeszów, for example, you wait almost an hour. There is also a shortage of fuel at the border.
10. Do not take any gifts ‘so as not to go empty’ (unless you know exactly what is needed), and the worst idea is clothes. Near the border there are piles of bags with clothes, if it rains on it, it will be thrown away. Clothes will be needed later, when the fugitives are at their destination. Collect, but don't take them to the border. The supplies there are quite good, I haven't noticed anything missing.
11. Take care of yourself. The emotions of the situation are enormous. Directly from the border I was taking two girls who my parents gave me, said goodbye and returned to the war. To a stranger, bald, overgrown individual who takes them no one knows where. I have no idea how much you have to fear for children to overcome the other fear of giving them over to complete strangers. How do children feel when their parents (or one of them) stay behind to fight? They need (at least initially) your peace and composure.
12. Be ready for mud on the seats, for unpleasant smells after many hours of travel, reluctance to talk, shame, tears and other emotions.
13. If they want to take a photo of you (eg with driving license, name) - allow it (hiding sensitive data), it makes them feel safer by sending this photo to their loved ones.
14. If you plan to stay somewhere on the spot - in the zone of several dozen kilometers from the border, finding a place in a hotel is almost a miracle.
15. If you can't / don't want to go - don't worry. Helping fugitives from the war is a long distance run, not a sprint, although nowadays there is nothing more important than transporting them on. But in a moment it will be possible to help you on the spot.