More than 70 organisations working on behalf of migrants and refugees in Poland have published an open letter to Polish central and local authorities. Their request is that the country accept a group of vulnerable people from Moria refugee camp in Lesbos, in particular unaccompanied children. The camp burned down in early September 2020, depriving approximately 13 000 people of shelter.

Signatories to the letter argue that many European Union countries, including those in Central and Eastern Europe, have already declared that they will receive refugees from Greece and so Poland should be no exception. They also write that multiple Polish institutions have the appropriate experience and competence to support the integration of new refugees, and are willing to do so. Among these institutions are non-governmental organisations but also state offices, such as the Office for Foreigners and the District Family Support Centres, as well as UNHCR.

The letter is addressed to the President of the Republic of Poland, the Prime Minister, the Marshal of the Sejm, the Marshal of the Senate, MPs, senators and presidents of the largest cities in Poland. So far Tomasz Grodzki, Marshal of the Senate who represents the opposition party, and the presidents of the cities in the Union of Polish Metropolises (also representing opposition parties), have responded positively to the NGOs' appeal.

Read the full open letter and view its signatories here.