June 20 – World Refugee Day

Polish Red Cross summarizes comprehensive actions for foreigners on World Refugee Day

On the occasion of World Refugee Day, celebrated on June 20, the Polish Red Cross summarizes the actions taken in recent years to assist refugees. The organization reminds of the growing problem and outlines solutions. #NotAlone

In Europe, the largest refugee crisis began after February 24, 2022. At that time, 8 million refugees from the attacked Ukraine sought shelter in other European countries. From the beginning, the Polish Red Cross undertook a number of initiatives aimed at supporting refugees in Poland and 'internally displaced persons' who were forced to leave their homes and move to another place within their own country: in Ukraine, there are 3.7 million citizens.

The value of aid provided by the Polish Red Cross to Ukrainians has exceeded 300 million PLN. So far, 1.8 million people have received support, making PCK a leader in comprehensive assistance to refugees. Currently, long-term assistance aimed at integrating the Ukrainian community with Polish society has become paramount. For this purpose, the Polish Red Cross operates 16 modern integration centers, where courses and meetings are held regularly.

Psychological and medical assistance is another important aspect of the actions aimed at improving the situation of refugees in Poland. Only within the framework of the Health4Ukraine project, the organization provided support worth 3.5 million PLN, which benefited nearly 25,000 Ukrainians. Additionally, the Polish Red Cross launched and continues to operate a special hotline for refugees, offering psychological support and information about available assistance in three languages, including Ukrainian.

– We help refugees wisely. We run Integration Centers where activities for adults and children take place. Refugees from Ukraine can safely spend time here, attend vocational and language courses, obtain qualifications, and enhance their skills. For the youngest, playrooms, workshops, and classes are prepared. Elderly individuals participate in Polish-Ukrainian senior clubs. The Centers offer the possibility of legal and psychological consultations. – says Michał Mikołajczyk, member of the Management Board of the Polish Red Cross. And he adds: – The ongoing activities would not be possible without the support of donors and volunteers, their engagement is crucial.

The Polish Red Cross received the International Humanitarian Service Award for its assistance to Ukrainian refugees, awarded by the American Red Cross. Currently, 58 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are engaged in actions for Ukraine.

The Polish Red Cross provided aid worth 2.3 million PLN in connection with the crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border. Among the delivered items were thousands of jackets, tracksuits, hats, shoes, underwear, socks, backpacks, as well as blankets, sleeping bags, mats, hygiene packages, and food packages. Such assistance would not be possible at this scale without the support of donors. From October 7, 2021, to mid-February 2022, the Polish Red Cross conducted a fundraising campaign under the slogan #naratunekuchodzcom. Additionally, from October 7 to November 10, 2021, a collection of material donations was conducted. PCK collaborates with state services, non-governmental organizations, and activists.

This year, forced displacements globally reached a record level of 120 million people, according to the Global Trends 2024 report prepared by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. In Sudan, over 7.1 million new displacements have been registered. Millions of refugees have emerged due to conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar. The largest crisis is currently in Syria, where 13.8 million citizens are forcibly displaced within the country and beyond its borders. The number of refugees and other individuals in need of international protection under the mandates of UNHCR and UNRWA has risen to 43.4 million. The vast majority of refugees worldwide are hosted in neighboring countries, with 75 percent living in low- and middle-income countries.

According to the definitions established in international humanitarian law: a refugee is a person fleeing from war or persecution. Refugees are defined and protected by, among others, the 1951 Geneva Convention. The Convention clarifies the term 'refugee' and specifies their rights. One of the most fundamental principles states that no refugee may be expelled or returned to a place where their life, health, or freedom would be in danger.

A migrant, unlike a refugee, chooses to leave their country to improve their quality of life, rather than due to an immediate threat. Migrants can safely return to their abandoned homes. Confusing refugees and migrants can have serious consequences for the lives and safety of the former. Blurring the line between these two related concepts distracts attention from the essence of the problem and works against refugees.