President Biden arrives in Poland, gets briefed on refugee situation

•  He would be briefed about the humanitarian response to the war

President Joe Biden landed at the Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in Poland in the city of Rzeszow, which is less than 80 kilometres from Ukraine.

There has been a change in the President’s schedule after Polish President Andrzej Duda’s plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Warsaw, delaying his meeting with Biden at Rzeszów.

Biden is currently meeting with members of the 82nd Airborne and being debriefed on the humanitarian response in Ukraine.

Read more: US President Biden to visit town near Polish-Ukrainian border

The Pentagon increased its deployment in Rzeszów as part of NATO’s efforts to deter a wider Russian attack on its eastern flank.

Around 2.2 million Ukrainians have taken refuge over the border into Poland  This is more than half of the total who have left Ukraine. However, the number of refugees staying in Poland is lower, with many continuing on in their journey to other countries.

Earlier this month, Vice President Kamala Harris had visited Poland, where Polish President Andrzej Duda had told her that the influx of refugees in Poland was straining its resources. He had requested the US to quicken the process, allowing Ukrainians with family in the US to come to the country.

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(With inputs from The National News)