Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, over three million people have had to flee their homes. Every day, hundreds of refugees travel from Gdańsk to Nynäshamn and from Świnoujście to Ystad in Sweden – and as of 24th of March, over 20 000 refugees have crossed the Baltic Sea to seek refuge in Sweden.
H.M. Queen Silvia Foundation – CATCH has decided to support the aid organization Ukrainian Aid – Children in Need, which cooperates with the Polish company Polferries. Polferries has, since the start of the war, offered Ukrainian refugees free voyage to Scandinavia on their ferries. The efforts have been directed at vulnerable Ukrainian women with children and unaccompanied minors. The donation from CATCH enables, among other things, the transportation of the families, meals on board the means of transportation and cabins that contains food and other necessities on board the ferries for those in need.