Around 2 million people from 185 countries will come to Poland in July to take part in the World Youth Day in Krakow (southern Poland), Malopolska province governor Jozef Pilch told a Sejm (lower house) committee on Wednesday.

All services are ready to host WYD participants and ensure their safety, Pilch declared.

„The estimated number of WYD 2016 participants amounts to around 2 million from 185 countries. Krakow expects some one million pilgrims, another million is expected in the Malopolska province,” Pilch said, presenting a report on the ongoing preparations for July’s WYD to the Sejm Administration and Internal Affairs Committee.

Pilch said that following his request for support, the Defence Ministry decided to send 3,000 soldiers, a few helicopters, 20 sanitary vehicles, CASA planes, 5,000 hospital tents, electric power generators and cisterns to help secure the event.

Pilch announced that the army had already built four bridges in the locality of Brzegi planned to host a night vigil with the pope on July 30 and a mass closing WYD on July 31.

In all, some 25,000 uniformed servicemen (20,000 policemen, over 2,400 firemen, 1,500 border guards and 800 Government Protection Bureau agents) will secure the WYD safety.

World Youth Day 2016 will take place in and around Krakow on July 26-31. Pope Francis will take part in the event from July 27 to 31.

(PAP)
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