JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE WAR IN UKRAINE WAS FOR US A POLITICAL FICTION EVENT. TODAY, IT IS A NIGHTMARISH REALITY. FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR THOSE WHO WERE FORCED TO FLEE. WE GET PERSONALLY INVOLVED, WE HELP, WE ALSO SELF-ORGANIZE OUR ACTIVITIES WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY. WE COLLECT INFORMATION ON INITIATIVES TAKEN BY BUSINESSES – WE UPDATE THE TEXT. INSURANCE INDUSTRY FOR THE UKRAINIAN CITIZENS – HOW WE PROVIDE HELP.

INSURANCE INDUSTRY FOR THE UKRAINIAN CITIZENS – CROSS-BORDER MOTOR THIRD PARTY LIABILITY (MTPL) INSURANCE OFFERED BY ALLIANZ, ERGO HESTIA, PZU AND WARTA INSURERS

Since Sunday, February 28, citizens of Ukraine could use cross-border motor third-party liability insurance when entering Poland. 30-day free motor third-party liability insurance was offered until 24 April by Allianz, ERGO Hestia, PZU and Warta at agency points at the border or via a helpline.

– This is a major type of support, because we take over the responsibility for possible motor accidents and related claims, whose enormous costs would probably be impossible to cover by refugees who do not have a compulsory third party insurance policy,” says Beata Kozłowska-Chyła, PhD, President of the Management Board of PZU insurance company.

– We are very keen to get this message across to the Ukrainian refugees so that they could avoid would-be consequences. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the solution implementation process and its subsequent communication. We have managed to develop a solution that actually helps people in an extremely difficult situation – says Piotr Maria Śliwicki, President of the Management Board of Ergo Hestia.

You could find information about the hotline and outlets on the insurers’ social media channels:

Allianz

Ergo Hestia

PZU

Warta

INSURANCE INDUSTRY FOR THE UKRAINIAN CITIZENS – FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Warta donated PLN 11 million for activities related to providing active assistance to Ukrainian citizens. The money will be used to, among other things, set up a fund for to satisfied needs of those affected by the war.

– At Warta, we understand that the best assistance is the one that is provided quickly and reaches people and places where it is needed most. Therefore, we decided to set up urgently a fund aimed at extending support to refugees who seek shelter in Poland, as well as to those who, for various reasons, have remained in their country,” says Jarosław Parkot, President of the Management Board of Warta.

Nationale Nederlandendecided to donate PLN 500 thousand for activities aimed at helping Ukraine. The Unum Foundation has donated PLN 50,000 for financial and psychological help. Funds are distributed to volunteers from all over Poland who engage in both individual and NGO fund-raising.

–  We all felt a deep need to help, our volunteers: employees and agents of Unum organize fund-raising events, host families under their roof, transport their Ukrainian friends to any destination all over Poland, we want to support them in this activity. We are planning further initiatives, believing that together we will build a “new home” in Poland for our Ukrainian friends. New Home that will be safe, warm and will give hope for a good future – Małgorzata Morańska, President  of the Management Board of the Unum Foundation.

Given the ongoing escalation of the conflict in Ukraine the MetLife Foundation , also donated $200,000 to UNICEF, for children who urgently need help. MetLife associates around the world can make donations to the Red Cross for Ukraine – the MetLife Foundation will double any employee contribution up to a total of $50,000.

Groups’ assistance – support provided by the Head Office

Allianz Group, of which Aviva is a part, will donate €10 million to humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees and another €2.5 million to double the money raised by employees and intermediaries. NN Group is making donations of at least EUR 1 million to humanitarian aid relief, spread across local and international organisations. In turn, Generali Group has set up an emergency fund of €3 million to support refugee programmes, including a donation to UNHCR. The Aegon Group has also donated EUR 1 million to the Red Cross to support humanitarian efforts for Ukraine and its citizens. Meanwhile the Generali Group has set up an emergency fund worth EUR 3 million to support refugee programmes, including donations to UNHCR.

“We are facing an enormous challenge, which is the humanitarian crisis caused by the hostilities in Ukraine. This unique situation calls for exceptional solidarity and assistance. Therefore, we have not hesitated to take measures for all those Ukrainian citizens who remained in their country, those who are fleeing from the war, as well as those who have long lived in Poland and have their families in Ukraine. We will do our utmost to make it at least a little easier for them to survive this difficult period,” says Jean Bernard Mas, Senior Country Officer Credit Agricole Poland.

The Credit Agricole Group has established cooperation with the Polish Medical Mission Association and through its agency it will donate PLN 600 thousand for the purchase of medical equipment and medicines for the Ukrainian hospitals. The Association has been active for over 20 years now and provides medical assistance to the victims of wars, disasters and cataclysms in the most needy regions in the world. It is one of the few Polish NGOs that has exclusively focused on providing medical aid.

EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT

– The M&G Group that is the owner Prudential Poland, mobilized funds to support partner foundations with whom we have worked for many years. They are the SOS Children’s Villages Association and Habitat for Humanity. Thanks to the activities of the Habitat for Humanity Poland charity organization, families with children from Ukraine will be provided with housing and specialized support in life’s difficulties – also psychological. Additionally, we have launched a campaign for employees “Help for Ukraine”. – You can donate money to SOS Children’s Villages or/and Habitat, and M&G Group doubles the value of monetary donations, so our financial aid will realistically be 2 times the material aid. We have also announced a collection of specific material items from a list provided by the SOS Children’s Villages Association,” says Marta Skowron-Moszkowicz, spokeswoman for Prudential.

– There have been quite a few private initiatives taken by our personnel. We participated in collecting donations where the company presented needed items such as vacuum flasks, power-banks, blankets and more. We wondered what might be useful at the border. Staff were also willing to provide housing for refugees. We know that one colleague volunteered to help coordinate the relocation of refugees from the Dołhobyczów-Kolonia border crossing. Adam has continuously gathering information from those willing to provide temporary shelter for the Ukrainian refugees. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in helping Ukraine. You are amazing! – adds Marta Skowron-Moszkowicz.

TU Europa has joined the “Donations for Ukraine” campaign organised by the Wroclaw City Hall [WROCLOVE]. It is a collection of material aid coordinated by the local government, which will go to the inhabitants of Lwów – a city close to many citizens of Wrocław. As part of the action the company’s employees collect food, clothing and hygiene products.

At Ageon Polska, employees team up and organize jointly meetings for the benefit of needy, provide additional transport services, seek shelter. The Management Board has also decided to provide part financing to the grass root initiatives of the personnel. An internal exchange of information is operational: what and where is needed or what kind of assistance is offered.

NON-MATERIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE

Nationale-Nederlanden funded a program implemented with the Faces of Depression Foundation of free, remote psychological and psychiatric assistance for Ukrainian citizens – children and adults, living in Poland, as well as those who have just arrived to Poland or stayed in their homes in Ukraine. Consultations will be carried out in Ukrainian and Russian. Patronage was assumed by the National Consultant in Psychiatry. More information on the website at www.twarzedepresji.pl/ukraina.

– We know how important humanitarian support and emergency relief is to those under inconceivable adversities. In addition to ongoing assistance, psychological support for people traumatized by war is extremely important, hence our decision to fund the Faces of Depression program for Ukraine,” says Marta Pokutycka-Mądrala, Spokesperson for Nationale-Nederlanden.

The PZU Group operates the First Contact Teleplatform set up by the Ministry of Health, also in Ukrainian (gov.pl/tpk). Thanks to it, Ukrainian citizens arriving in Poland at any time of day have access to professional assistance from the insurer’s consultants and doctors. Meanwhile people affected by the war in Ukraine are entitled to receive free medical care at more than 50 PZU Zdrowie health care facilities. Consultations and tests can be carried out throughout Poland, including but not limited to such cities as Warsaw, Kraków, Katowice, Gdańsk, Opole and Częstochowa.

Allianz has also launched a special service with legal and psychological advice for Ukrainian group life and health insurance customers.

SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEES OF INSURANCE COMPANIES IN UKRAINE

All companies with branches in Ukraine have launched special measures and taken action to support employees and their families.

PZU helps the families of over 700 employees of its companies in Ukraine. It will provide them with housing, medical care, psychological support and the necessities of life. The first of these individuals are already in Poland under the care of an insurer. PZU is also in contact with more individuals that are heading for the Polish border.

Nationale Nederlanden has also offered support to its employees coming from Ukraine. All those who need help can count on the support of the insurer.

UNIQA Polska already on Thursday guaranteed support to workers affected by the current situation in Ukraine. This not only applies to our Ukrainian workers, but to everyone else as well.

– We have prepared legal assistance as well as psychological support in crisis. We keep in touch on a current basis with employees who originate from Ukraine. We respond to their needs on an ongoing basis. In addition, we are organizing webinars for employees and managers to help them cope with the current situation. We also joined in helping our colleagues from UNIQA’s Ukrainian companies. Since Friday, we have helped more than 30 people to arrive at a safe destination in Poland. More families are reaching us every day. We organize not only help with transport or preparation of accommodation, but also any other assistance, be it psychological or legal. Our employees were also heavily involved in helping as volunteers,” says Katarzyna Ostrowska, the company’s spokeswoman.

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Locally, MetLife primarily assists its Kiev-based employees – Ukrainian citizens and their families – to travel to Poland, providing them with housing and a livelihood. Several families with children are already in Warsaw and preparations are underway to welcome more people. Volunteers from the MetLife Agency in Tarnów are also being supported in their efforts to provide direct assistance to refugees crossing the border into Poland at the Korczowa checkpoint by organizing transportation, housing, and translation services for them. MetLife in Poland is also working on long-term plans to support organizations involved in helping Ukraine.

Aviva also supports workers from Ukraine and their relatives – helps with transport to Poland and financing accommodation, provides professional psychological help. It also encourages its employees to get directly involved as volunteers and use two workdays to do so. It will double the amount that its employees and insurance agents will contribute to the Aviva Foundation for Ukraine.

non-refundable financial support to the Ukrainian employees

Generali in cooperation with Caritas implements a temporary accommodation programme for several dozen Ukrainian families with children, e.g. in Warsaw. The company will cover costs not only of the accommodation itself, but also of full board for all persons included in the programme. Generali provided non-refundable financial support to the Ukrainian employees to help them and their relatives. Psychological assistance was also organised for them. In addition, Generali supports a collection organised by Caritas, while globally the Generali Group, in cooperation with The Human Safety Net, supports UNICEF, which carries out humanitarian work in Ukraine and continuously reaches out to children and families affected by the conflict.

COOPERATION WITH NGO’S

Europe will financially support the SOS Children’s Villages Association. The organisation focuses on helping children from orphanages and foster families who are evacuated to Poland because of the war. As a first step, the insurer donated PLN 50,000 to the Association. The financial support will continue – Europa will donate in the coming months the equivalent of 1 per cent of insurance sales in its own channels (website and two mobile applications: Screenity and app2U) to help the organisation’s charges.

“TUW” Mutual Insurance Company also donated PLN 30 thousand to the SOS Children’s Villages Association. “TUW” Mutual Insurance Company donated funds for the purchase of equipment necessary to provide aid to warfare victims by emergency services in Ukraine.   The operation is organized by the Podkarpackie Local Government Association. In addition, it supplied thermal blankets to the volunteers who reach out to people waiting in long lines to cross the border.  In response to the appeal of border municipalities from the Lublin Province, the company also donated towels and cleaning supplies for refugees. Working hand in hand with the Member Mutuality Associations, funds were donated to the Foster Care Administration Centre in Łódź for the retrofitting of the Children’s Home No. 1 building, which accepted a group of orphans from Ukraine, and headlamps were purchased for the Ukrainian population. In addition the “TUW” Mutual Insurance Company has extended premium-free accident insurance for the Ukrainian children on the premises of educational institutions under the “Safe School” group insurance. Vehicles of local government units and rescue services and organizations involved in aid provision in Ukraine which are insured at “TUW” Mutual Insurance Company under TPL cover for the motor vehicle holders can use the insurance “Green Card” for a symbolic one (1) Polish zloty.

NON-STANDARD ACTIVITIES

Companies and their employees try to help in many ways.  Euler Hermes funds fuel for its company cars for trips to border crossings. It also supports employees who host families from Ukraine at their homes. Many people were involved in collecting donations, hygiene products and food for people crossing the border. The TUZ Insurance personnel were involved in organizing fund-raising events to collect most needed items. They bring to the office medical supplies, hygiene items, food, and such items as sleeping bags, blankets, bedding, quilts, warm clothing and mascots for children, which will soon be donated to those in need.

The Mondial Assistance insurer has decided to finish the vacant floor area instantly and to use it for the purposes of a Day Care Club for the Ukrainian children. The Day Care Club will have at its disposal 5 rooms with a total area of about 400 square metres. The Day Care Club will operate through September. The company will provide food for the children. They asked the Warsaw City Hall to coordinate the activities.

HOUSING FOR UKRAINIAN FAMILIES

Employees of Compensa, InterRisk, Wiener  and Vienna Life organize assistance for employees of Ukrainian companies belonging to the Vienna Insurance Group, as well as for their relatives. Those in need receive housing owned by the companies as well as medical and psychological support. All necessary needs are also provided for. Currently, there are already more than 150 people in Poland, with more still on the way. The VIG Group in Poland has provided them with approximately 90 flats in Warsaw. The families are looked after by volunteers from each of the companies, who check for needs, provide information, and offer conversation and presence. Further assistance measures will also be taken as the situation develops.

We will keep you posted on future initiatives.