Poland ditches financial aid to Ukrainian refugees, encourages them to look for jobs

Poland on Friday anunced that it will suspend special benefits for Ukrainian refugees residing in country for more than four months amid ongoing war in Kyiv. Speaking to a national publication Rzeczpospolita, Polish Deputy Interior Minister and Commissioner for Refugees Pawel Szefernaker said, July 1 was last day for Ukrainian refugees to avail of $9 per day allotment for food and accommodation, move that was taken to encour more people to "adapt in country." He added, "We are convinced that many (Ukrainian refugees) in Poland are capable of becoming independent and adapting."

official explained that step taken by Warsaw is aimed at pushing more Ukrainians "to be active" and opt for jobs instead. "In our opinion, four months of full protection is eugh time to blend into community and culture and adapt to country," Szefernaker suggested. Poland, however, will make exceptions for those with disabilities, pregnant women, and families with many children.

Warsaw has remained one of strongest supporters of Ukraine among European countries since inception of Russian invasion. Apart from providing Ukraine with more than half of its military tank stockpile, Poland has also accepted and accommodated hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers ever since war began. As per UN estimates, at least 1.5 million have remained in Poland out of 4.3 million people passing through Polish territory.

Poland in March passed a law to provide special benefits to Ukrainian refugees, seeking shelter in country. Under legislation, refugees were entitled to receive approximately $9 per day for food and lodging, and access to free transport. About 6 lakh Ukrainians were reportedly benefiting from scheme. However, allowances were initially granted for two months and later extended for ar two months. In early June, Polish interior ministry for first time said it will withdraw special aid as government was "convinced that many people were able to become independent and adapt." y added that as Russian war concentrated in eastern part of Ukraine, refugees exited country more than those entering.

Poland offered generous welcome to Ukrainian refugees amid war

According to UN data, at least 12 million fled Ukraine in four-month-long running war. About 5 million among se have left for neighbouring European nations, while 7 million remained in Ukraine. As per last updated figures by International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Poland has hosted second-largest exodus of war-inflicted Ukrainians- 1,180,677 refugees, while rest have travelled to Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Belarus. About 1.3 million people have also reportedly moved to Russia amidst war.  

(Im: AP)