Syrian Christians seeking asylum in Poland
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
12.05.2015 17:16
A Warsaw-based foundation is calling for 1500 Syrian Christians to be given asylum in Poland, as civil war continues to wreak destruction in their native land.
Syrian policemen inspect the site of an explosion at Ekremah al-Jadida in Homs, Syria, 12 May 2015. According to the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), two blasts at Ekremah al-Jadida and al-Zahraa neighbourhoods on 12 May left four people dead and 28 others injured. EPA/STR Dostawca: PAP/EPA.
Miriam Shaded of the Ester Foundation has told Polish Radio that the costs of looking after the would-be refugees have already been covered by charities, churches and businesses, and that only residency permits are lacking.
The foundation is waiting for the government's decision on the matter.
Shaded has noted that the candidates are mainly children, chiefly from Christian families in Damascus. Prior to the conflict, most were from wealthy households.
A special programme has been prepared to help the Syrians assimilate into Polish life, including a language course.
It has been estimated that 200,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, while millions have been displaced.
Prior to the war, Christians constituted about 10 percent of the population. Christians have been targeted by jihadist formations such as ISIS, although other rebel groups including the Free Syrian Army have allied themselves with the Christian Syriac Military Council. (nh)
Source: IAR