First Lady Anna Komorowska backs asylum for Syrian Christians

Komorowska met with Miriam Shaded of the Warsaw-based Ester Foundation, which is spearheading the campaign, on Friday evening at the Belvedere Palace.

Poland's interior ministry is currently considering the matter. Most of the would-be refugees are from Damascus and they would need Polish visas to cross the Syrian border with Lebanon or Jordan.

Miriam Shaded told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that the meeting with Komorowska has provided a boost to the initiative.

“The support of the First Lady is very important to this whole project,” she said.

“If we do not help them now, there blood will be on our hands,” she added.

The costs of looking after the Syrians have already been covered by charities, churches and businesses, although residency permits need to be approved.

A special programme has been prepared to help asylum-seekers to 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 the Islamic State, although other rebel groups including the Free Syrian Army have allied themselves with the Christian Syriac Military Council. (nh)