Polish refugees remembered in Iran

On the final day of the his visit, which focused on Poland's business opportunities in Iran, Piechociński paid tribute to thousands of Polish refugees freed from Soviet captivity in the 1940s and taken in by Iran. While most left Iran after 1945, over 2,900 of Poles died soon after they reached their destination, chiefly due to fatal health complications caused during internment at Soviet labour camps.

“We paid our respects to those who, having suffered great anguish, arrived here, but who did not live to see another march,” Piechociński told reporters following his speech at the Tehran-based Military Cemetery of Dulab, the largest Polish burial ground in the country, housing some 2,000 Poles. “I thanked our Iranian hosts for their care and welcome offered to 120,000 Polish refugees,” he added.

The Polish refugees in Iran were among thousands of internees held in labour camps across the Soviet Union during WWII. Following an amnesty granted by Joseph Stalin in 1941, one captive, General Władysław Anders set out to evacuate thousands of Poles to Iran. Among the evacuees were Polish 15,000 children.

Janusz Piechociński’s words of gratitude came as US President Barack Obama called for greater international support to aid refugees, while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York on Sunday.

“Those countries that can, must do more to accommodate refugees, recognizing that those children are just like ours,” the US head of state told world leaders gathered at the 70th session of the international assembly.

Poland has committed to accept a total of 7,000 refugees as part of a European-wide relocation scheme taking in some 120,000 asylum-seekers from North Africa and the Middle East.

(aba/rk)

Source: PAP