Poland to the Rescue: Opens Safe Haven for Christian Refugees from Syria, Which Country Will be Next to Help?

Isaiah Narciso : May 28, 2015
Gospel Herald

"Today Christians who are being persecuted in a barbaric fashion in Syria deserve Christian countries like Poland to act fast to help them."

Polish charity Fundacja Estera says that the refugees are among the thousands of Christians facing murder in Syria. Of those that the foundation says should be granted asylum in Poland, more than half are children. (Photo: Syrian refugees granted asylum in Poland/via Gospel Herald)

The European country of Poland announced on Tuesday that it has decided to accept 60 Syrian Christian refugee families. The country has previously voiced opposition to European Union plans for binding quotas on asylum seekers.

According to a report from Agence France-Presse, Polish non-governmental organization Estera asked Poland's government to allow around 1,500 Syrian Christians to live in the country. Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz made the announcement to reporters in Warsaw.

"We'll welcome 60 families for a start," Kopacz said. "Today Christians who are being persecuted in a barbaric fashion in Syria deserve Christian countries like Poland to act fast to help them."

AFP reported that although Poland opposed binding EU quotas for asylum seekers, the country indicated that it is open to accepting refugees and migrants on a voluntary basis.

According to a report from Radio Poland, Kopacz laid out the plan on how the Syrian Christian refugees will be processed. (Photo credit: AP/Khalil Hamra)

"It must be a very precise schedule of activities," Kopacz said. "We will count on the cooperation of local authorities, as well as, we hope, and we expected such cooperation when we took on Ukrainians from the Donbass region."

Radio Poland reported that about 1,500 Syrian Christians would be eligible for asylum in Poland. The prime minister indicated that the decision was unanimous and made during a meeting with Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna and Interior Minister Teresa Piotrowska.

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