Today (5 April) took place visit of the Warmian-Masurian Voivode Artur Chojecki in our city. In The meeting was also attended by Wojciech Kossakowski, Member of the Polish Parliament. Visit Voivodes are an opportunity to summarize the cooperation of the administration so far government with the city as part of assistance to war refugees from Ukraine, as well as the establishment of further actions.

The visit began in the town hall, where the Voivode met with the President of Ełk Tomasz Andrukiewicz, who presented activities of the city, associations, informal groups and other institutions.

After visiting the town hall, the Voivode he went to the building at Gizewiusza Street, where he had the opportunity to see how there are war refugees from Ukraine. The building is currently inhabited by 72 people who fled the war.

A meeting was also held on the spot with journalists, during which the Voivode thanked the President of Ełk for his actions, which was undertaken by the city government from the first day after the outbreak of the war. "You can see how this is given here comprehensive assistance to refugees from the war area. The city of Ełk was one of the the first in the region that implemented aid most efficiently from the beginning Ukraine. I am glad that here in Ełk, I could see for myself how Poles they bring help to our guests from Ukraine" – said Artur Chojecki.

The President of Ełk expressed his gratitude local community for their involvement in providing assistance to people with Ukraine.  "I would like to thank the elczans for their beautiful energy and spontaneous actions from the first the day of the outbreak of war. Thank you to informal groups, individual residents, Urban Social Welfare Centre and other institutions and associated organisations to help.  The city has made a residential building available serving in crisis situations. It is inhabited by 72 people who have fled from war (...) Thank you for your help to schools, Territorial Defense Forces, as well as people from the homeless centre, volunteers of the Volunteer Support Centre, Caritas, parishes. So far, about 1100 refugees have been registered of those who came to Ełk - 70% of them were women, 30% were men (including 60 people are of legal age and the rest are children). (...) Now we implement system solutions, long-term" – said Tomasz Andrukiewicz.

The President also thanked the administration government services, including the Ministry of the Interior and Administration Voivodes and Parliament, for the quick and efficient preparation of new laws and regulations that enable rapid and systemic action.