N.L.'s immigration team in Poland says it's attracting interest from Ukrainian refugees

A week after arriving in Poland, a team from Newfoundland and Labrador sent to offer support to Ukrainian refugees says they're garnering interest from people considering coming to the province.

Allison Day, an immigration program development officer with the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, told CBC News "there's definitely interest" in what the province is offering.

"It is still early, so we will see," said Day.

"The focus right now is getting the Canadian visas done, the biometrics completed. In speaking with people on the ground, we can tell them we have a small population, we can offer many different supports, the size is to our advantage in this case."

According to the United Nations, more than two million people have fled Ukraine for Poland since Russia'sinvasion last month.

In an effort to draw more newcomers to Newfoundland and Labrador, the provincial governmentsent a small team to Warsawto offer in-person, expedited support for Ukrainians seeking temporary safety orpermanent resettlement.

The Ukrainian Family Support Desk is staffed by four people who arrived overseas a week ago. Among them are Day and Darek Nakonieczny, a senior multimedia analyst with the province'scommunications branch.

"We really hit the ground and are going around to different organizations where Ukrainians are seeking temporary shelter. We are speaking with media to get the word out and we're providing any assistance we can to support Ukrainians applying for the Canadian Visa," Day said.

"We have a temporary work site where we can meet clients. We don't have a formal office at this time because we found it was useful for us to be moving around for now."

Nakonieczny, who is originally from Poland and can speak Russian, is helping out with logistics and interpretation. His wife,Iwona, also from Poland, is also on the team. The fourth team member isSonia Parker, also Polish and an immigration officer for the province.

Nakoniecznyruns the Confederation Building's media centre and government's live streamsbut his connections in Poland, along with his wife's,are proving useful in the effort to help fleeing Ukrainians, he said.

"Two of us are working on the logistics and reaching outto our Polish contacts,"Nakoniecznysaid."So, applications, documents, translations and linking folks with our team back home in Newfoundland."

Local help from N.L.

N.L. is the only province to send an immigration team from Canada so far, but the federal government has a Canadian embassy in Warsaw.

Day said the embassy has been supportive of Newfoundland and Labrador's mission and there has been consistent contact between the two sides. The embassy is helping to point Ukrainians who have expressed an interest in coming to Canada toward the N.L. contingent, she said.

The team is also delivering handouts to highly populated areas where Ukrainians are sheltering.

Day said the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills is able to match refugees with prospective employers before they ever leavethe country.

She said other employers have been reaching out to offer help andtraining for those who don't have experience in a particular industry. Memorial University may also play a role in helping to attract more international students.

Nakoniecznysaidthe situation is heartbreaking, withmultiple generations fleeing their homes, mostly women and children as the men remain in Ukraine to defend against the Russian invasion.

He said his initial impression is thatmany prefer to remain close to home,but with no end in sight to the conflictthey may be considering more long-term solutions.

"They are in shock, especially the fact that families are separated. So that makes the decision that much harder."

The province has set up an email address, UkrainianFamily@gov.nl.ca, for anyone who may be able to help support Ukrainian newcomers, andimmigration@gov.nl.ca can be used by thoselooking to assist family displaced bythe conflict.

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