The war between Ukraine and Russia has forced many people to flee their homes towards bordering countries. Women with children and girls in such situations are at higher risk of falling victim to human traffickers.

For this reason, the branch in Poland of the Order of Malta has published a list of recommendations in Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish that give practical suggestions to prevent ending up prey to criminal networks and that are handed out to refugees along the main exit routes from Ukraine.

They include:

• Always keep your passport with you, showing it only when border guards ask you to do so at the border.
• When you need help, seek out volunteers that carry a badge from their organisation.
• Be suspicious of anyone offering help and do not get into the cars of people you do not know alone. If you must, take a photo of the license plate and share it with someone you trust.
• Accept hospitality and job offers only through well-known volunteer organisations or trusted sources.
• Always keep your phone battery charged and send your location to people you trust.
• In case of suspicious activities, inform the border guards, humanitarian aid workers, or volunteers.

Order of Malta extends aid to refugees in neighbouring countries

Malteser International is coordinating the global effort of the Sovereign Order of Malta, whose associations and relief and volunteer corps are on the ground to assist the refugees, a statement issued by the organization said.

In Ukraine volunteers of the Order of Malta are providing psychological first aid to the people fleeing the war and accommodation is offered in Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk in the western side of the country.

Food is also distributed in six different locations in Lviv where a medical centre is being set up. A field kitchen is running in Krakowez where teams are also providing psychological support.

Near the Hungarian border, in Berehove, the Order of Malta is supporting refugees who are trying to cross the border and is distributing relief goods.Baby food and basic items are being sent to Kharkiv, it added.

In Hungary, support and pick-up service are offered at the border in Beregsurány, where accommodation and assistance are also provided to incoming refugees. Shelters and medical premises are running in Budapest.

The Order of Malta in Poland is providing 24/7 service to incoming refugees at the Ukrainian border. This includes a shuttle service, mobile medical points in Kroscienko, and food distribution at Lubycza Krolewska.

In Romania, a service to incoming refugees is running at the Ukrainian border at Sighetu Marmației, Siret and Satu Mare.

Slovakia is also providing transportation and accommodation in the border town of Vysne Nemecke.

Slovenia is also providing housing to Ukrainian refugees, and a team has joined the Slovakian volunteers to support them.

Order of Malta's diplomatic network supporting efforts on the ground

The diplomatic network of the Order of Malta is also supporting the ongoing relief operations, calling for full protection of international law through the erection of a humanitarian corridor and for the humanitarian aid to be safely delivered in Ukraine to the people in need, the statement stressed.

Many Order of Malta national associations are also contributing to the assistance operations. In addition to the many fundraising campaigns launched, the Italian Relief Corps of the Order of Malta is transporting to Ukraine supplies of humanitarian goods and is organising accommodation in Italy for refugee families.

The Relief corps also drove an ambulance to the Romania-Ukraine border to pick up an oncological child who has been admitted in an Italian hospital," it added.