On September 1st Poland presented A REPORT ON THE LOSSES SUFFERED BY POLAND AS A RESULT OF GERMAN AGGRESSION AND OCCUPATION DURING WORLD WAR II, 1939-1945. The Report consists of three volumes: Volume A - A collection of studies; Volume B - Photographic documentary; Volume C - List of atrocity sites. The download will start automatically.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Syrian refugees brought to Poland fled because life was 'too difficult'. They also don't want the refugee status

In July 2015 the Ester Foundation brought 50 families, nearly 160 people, from the war-torn Syria. The legal basis for their arrival was the three-month Schengen visa issued "to visit" by the foundation. It turns out that they all left Poland, probably going to Germany. Through their lawyers, they also applied to deprive them of refugee status.

Polish daily newspaper, Rzeczpospolita (Republic),  gained access to one of such applications. According to the daily, in a letter addressed to the Office of Foreigners the Syrian K. family (the Polish law forbids use of a full name) wrote: "The status of refugee given to us in Poland hinders our present life beyond the country of origin," (it prevents them from receiving welfare in other countries than Poland).

The Syrians also say that they were forced to apply for refugee status, although they did not feel that way at all. The K. family emphasizes that being in Poland is "unworkable" because of earnings, the language needed to get a job, "the lack of a friendly social environment", and the poor preparation of offices and institutions to help, which they think is too short (one year).

"It is a pathological situation where a refugee who escapes from persecution, death and hunger will choose the country where he wants to live, because it offers the best living conditions. The refugee turns out to be an economic emigrant" - says the refugee expert quoted by the daily.