Non-Governmental Organizations’ engagement in the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis in Poland.

• In Event: Addressing Human Rights, Conflict, and Public Heath

Abstract

The present Ukrainian refugees’ crisis is the biggest in Europe since the World War II. Poland remains the main host country for the refugees escaping the war. In this paper we present an analysis of 21 interviews conducted with a sample of the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who were assisting Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw, Poland. The interviews were conducted in fall 2023 in Polish language. The sample was purposive and based on the snowball sampling. During the interviews we explored the types of provided assistance, the NGOs priorities and the challenges they encountered. Some of the problems brought up by the interviewees included: lack of sufficient legal regulations regarding NGOs, limited funding, lack of psychological assistance for refugees, systemic discrimination and bureaucracy in social agencies, and crime against and by the refugees. We conclude that the NGOs carried a significant portion of help provided to the refugees and that their work was often politicized by the current government and the state-owned media.

Authors

• Katarzyna Celinska, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Katarzyna Witkowska-Rozpara, University of Warsaw