Ukrainian refugees in Poland will have to pay for their shelter from today. Now it’s still 4.30 euros a day, but after six months it will be 6.40 euros. “You can see some cracks appearing in the support base of the Poles,” says correspondent Ekke Overbeek.
8 billion euros
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Polish government has spent around 8 billion euros on hosting refugees. The country receives by far the largest number of Ukrainians in Europe. ‘The cracks in the support base are mainly socio-economic. So think about complaining that refugees have access to treatment, education and hospitals – and that costs money.’ That is why it was decided to make the Ukrainians pay.
“Poles understand that the war in Ukraine is also their war to some extent.”
Pay only if you can
Yet not all Ukrainian refugees pay nearly five euros a day for accommodation. “The vast majority have found refuge on their own and a large number of them are simply working,” explains Overbeek. ‘The group remaining in Polish government shelters number more than 80,000. And so the government says: if you can pay, you pay. If you can’t do it, you won’t be charged.’
According to Overbeek, it is extraordinary that a year after the war there is still so much support in Poland. “It’s a very heavy burden for society, but Poles understand that the war in Ukraine is also their war in a way. If the Russians win, they will be on the border with Poland and then it will be their turn».
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
