At least 90 Ukrainians seek accommodation in Catalan government hostels
Most were tourists who feared returning to home country after Russian attack
At least 90 Ukrainians have requested accommodation in hostels across Catalonia after the foreign minister, Victòria Alsina, put forward plans to lodge people on Thursday. The vast majority of them are tourists who are not able to return home.
The first figure reported on Friday by Catalan authorities was that there were 17 Ukrainian nationals who had sought accommodation. However, at the time, Ukrainian consulate sources told Catalan News that the number of requests was "much higher."
Later in the evening, Catalan officials increased the number from 17 Ukrainians seeking a place to stay to 90.
Ukrainians in Catalonia who cannot return home are given free accommodation and free food at one of the four hostels the Catalan government has made available via the XANASCAT youth hostel network.
The option is open to all Ukrainian citizens "who do not have the means to rent housing in Catalonia," reads a Facebook post from the consulate.
Three of these establishments are located 70 to 80 kilometers away from Barcelona, and there is a fourth one in the capital city. The vast majority of Ukrainians will be based in the seaside town of Coma-Ruga, official sources told this media outlet. The two other hostels are located in Espluga de Francoli and in the central town of Vic.
Those who need to be placed in one of these centers are being told to get in touch with the Ukrainian consulate in Barcelona.