Flemish PM visits medical hub near Ukrainian border

On Tuesday, Flemish minister-president Jan Jambon visited the Medevac hub in Rzeszow, Poland, which plays a vital role in the rapid transfer of Ukrainian patients to other European countries. PCPM, a Polish NGO that co-manages the hub, received financial support from the Flemish government. "The money came at a crucial time," the organisation responded.

The medical centre in Rzeszow temporarily accommodates Ukrainian patients and wounded. People receive nursing care, disease screening, vaccinations and mental health care at the hub, which currently houses 20 patients. The patients and injured are then flown to hospitals in other European countries for further treatment. The hub for medical evacuations of Ukrainian patients is strategically located near the Rzeszow airport in southeastern Poland, about 90 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

Soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Flemish government released funds for the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM), an NGO that co-hosts the medical hub. "Flanders may not be the largest donor, but it was the most flexible," said Tomasz Lipert of PCPM. "For large donors, it often takes longer to decide, but the Flemish money came at a crucial time. The money was important to immediately plug 'holes' in the first weeks of the war."

"Today, we saw how welcome the money was at the time. They had to organise everything at lightning speed."

"Flanders was the first to support the organisation financially. We immediately decided to give 200,000 euros," said government leader Jan Jambon during his visit. "Today, we saw how welcome the money was at the time. They had to organise everything at lightning speed."

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism funds the Medevac hub in Rzeszow, and the World Health Organization (WHO) also supports its operation. Since the beginning of the war, precisely 1,788 Ukrainian people have already been evacuated to other European countries through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. About 40 patients were transferred to Belgium.

(BRV)

^{#FlandersNewsService | Flemish minister-president Jan Jambon (C) during a visit to the Medevac Hub in Rzeszow, Poland© ​BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}