UK and Spain express their gratitude to Poland
The British deputy foreign secretary has thanked Poland for providing help in testing the more than ten thousand truck drivers stuck at Dover. Spain and Portugal also expressed their gratitude for Poland s contribution.
British Deputy Foreign Secretary Wendy Morton thanked Poland on social media for providing personnel who worked with British soldiers to test truck drivers stuck at Dover.
The UK is working with European partners to get hauliers in Kent back on the move. More than 15,000 tests have taken place & more than 8,000 HGVs are back over the Channel. Thank you to Poland which has deployed personnel to work with UK soldiers to administer tests. ???????? ???????? pic.twitter.com/qzWluazHhB
— Wendy Morton MP (@morton_wendy) December 26, 2020
Due to the threat of a mutated version of the coronavirus discovered in the UK, several countries closed their borders to British traffic before Christmas, causing huge congestion at the British border. The testing of the drivers took days after reopening.
Poland deployed its own doctors to ensure the speedy return of Polish drivers. The plane landed at London s Gatwick Airport on Thursday, from where the embassy staff transported the medical personnel to Dover.
On Friday, the Polish military sent 60 additional medical staff to the scene to replace the team of 37 doctors, nurses and paramedics working there since Thursday.
Żołnierze wylecieli już do Wielkiej Brytanii. Bedą pomagać polskim kierowcom ciężarówek, którzy utknęli na granicy. Wojskowi będą przeprowadzać testy na obecność #koronawirus wśród kierowców, a także dostarczą im żywność i napoje. pic.twitter.com/3tN8EQHo3h
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) December 25, 2020
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Balczak tweeted that the military doctors would also transport food and water to those waiting to be tested.
Polonia envía militares a Reino Unido para ayudar a los camioneros atrapados, tanto a sus nacionales como a los de otros países cuyos gobiernos han abandonado.
¿Adivináis a qué país pertenece la matrícula de esta foto?
Gracias al pueblo polaco por su solidaridad ???????????????????? https://t.co/5Zfes8RYwN
— VOX ???????? (@vox_es) December 26, 2020
The party wrote that they were very grateful for Poland s solidarity.
Gracias amigos de Polonia, vuestra solidaridad os dignifica, los españoles os lo agradecemos, vuestra ayuda es la única. El gobierno español se desentiende de todo @sanchezcastejon @MAECgob vergüenza.
— Mercedes ???????? (@mercedestesouro) December 26, 2020
Others expressed hope that one day Spain would have a government like Poland.
Polonia envía militares a Reino Unido para ayudar a los camioneros atrapados, tanto a sus nacionales como a los de otros países cuyos gobiernos han abandonado.
¿Adivináis a qué país pertenece la matrícula de esta foto?
Gracias al pueblo polaco por su solidaridad ???????????????????? https://t.co/5Zfes8RYwN
— VOX ???????? (@vox_es) December 26, 2020
„Thank you Poland. Together with Hungary, you are the last citadel of the Europe we know,” another Spanish user wrote.
Konsulowie z @PolishEmbassyUK, @terytorialsi i wolontariusze z Londynu i Manchesteru rozdają żywność kierowcom na M20. @PolakZaGranica pic.twitter.com/ub3MjNW779
— Polish Embassy UK ???????? (@PolishEmbassyUK) December 25, 2020
Speaking to RTP television a Portugese driver praised the attitude of Polish diplomats.