A/HRC/53/26/Add.1 in irregular situations, such as undocumented migrants and those waiting for a final decision on their applications for international protection in Ukraine. 32. In the weeks before the outbreak of the war, Poland prepared to receive and host refugees from Ukraine. However, the unprecedented number of refugees approaching the Polish border within a very short period of time exceeded expectations, posing significant challenges to the Border Guard and local authorities of Podkarpackie and Lubelskie Provinces, the two provinces that share a border with Ukraine. Polish border entry capacity was maximized and procedures were simplified to facilitate the speedy entry of refugees. Authorities at the provincial level, in close cooperation with officials of the Border Guard, the fire department, the police and the national railway service mobilized necessary resources to receive refugees, provide initial support and facilitate their onward journey to other parts of Poland or neighbouring countries. 33. Reception centres were established to address the medical and humanitarian needs of refugees; a first-point contact network was also set up to provide information on transportation and accommodation; 101 buses belonging to the State fire service and the police were dispatched to transport Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war; and approximately 2,000 private buses were placed at the disposal of the commander of the State fire service. Free rail transport was provided to refugees to travel to other regions in Poland or to neighbouring countries. From 24 February to 30 June 2022, 2,350,000 Ukrainian citizens benefitted from free travel on the intercity trains run by the Polish State railway. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine until July 2022, the Polish Government has spent over €670 million on the reception facilities established at the border to provide basic aid, meals and transportation for refugees. Individuals, humanitarian actors and international organizations have also been actively involved in providing humanitarian, medical and other assistance to refugees arriving through the Polish-Ukrainian border. Donations of food and non-food items, medical and hygiene products are delivered to the reception points. The International Organization of Migration set up a tent after the border crossing point to provide case management support to refugees, especially third-country nationals who need assistance, including legal counselling and accommodation referrals. Housing 34. While many of the approximately 5.5 million refugees who crossed the border between February and August 2022 moved on to other countries in Europe, approximately 2 million remained in Poland, with the majority being hosted as guests by individual citizens, including the Ukrainian community in Poland, at their private homes. Most of these hosts have applied for financial subsidies provided by the Government, although for various reasons, including the time limitation of the granting of subsidies, many are covering the expenses by themselves. Other Polish citizens, often groups of friends, have taken the initiative to convert houses, shopping centres or public buildings to shelters for refugees. These private shelters provide free housing solutions for the most vulnerable refugees, including those who have just arrived and are still figuring out their next steps; those who await settlement in foreign countries; big families, including Roma families, that are challenging to accommodate at private houses; and people with limited financial capacity and/or social connections. 35. At the provincial level, Governors have set up temporary collective accommodation points, providing food, medical and psychological care and information to those in need of catering and shelter. As at 15 February 2023, 495,434 individuals have benefited from such accommodations. At the national level, a cash benefit of Zl40 (approximately €8.5) per day per assisted Ukrainian citizen is provided by the Polish Government to any entity, especially individuals running a household, at its own expense, providing accommodation and meals to a citizen of Ukraine for a period not exceeding 120 days. As at 31 January 2023, over 1.6 million Ukrainian citizens have been covered. Since 1 July 2022, the government subsidy has been limited to new arrivals for 120 days, and to existing beneficiaries with vulnerabilities. In the meantime, many individual hosts have been sacrificing space in their own homes for months. Following new amendments to the Act on assistance to Ukrainian citizens of 12 March 2022, which were introduced in January 2023, Ukrainian refugees, with some 8 GE.23-06742