Poland: Bishops call for solidarity with refugees on Belarus border

Caritas Polska volunteers unload aid supplies

Source: Polish Bishops Conference, Caritas Polska

As the migrant crisis escalates on the border between Poland and Belarus, Polish bishops are calling on Catholics to show solidarity with migrants and refugees who have managed to enter the country.

"Regardless of the circumstances of their arrival, they certainly need our spiritual and material support," Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki, president of the Polish Bishops Conference said.

Poland has been facing a major emergency since last August, when thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa started to flow into the country, as well as into Lithuania and Latvia, from neighbouring Belarus. According to Polish authorities, there have been more than 30,000 illegal attempts so far.

The Polish government, along with the European Union, has accused Minsk of encouraging the massive flow as a form of "hybrid warfare" in retaliation for Western sanctions on President Alexander Lukashenko's government for his brutal crackdown against pro-democracy protests. Lukashenko, who won a sixth term in a disputed presidential election in August 2020 and is supported by Russia, has repeatedly denied the accusations.

In response to the crisis, Poland has built a razor-wire fence, deployed additional troops, border guards and police along its eastern border, and is cracking down on migrants attempting to enter the country. The border guards have been pushing migrants back across the border, including families with children, thanks also to a new Polish law that makes that legal. Polish lawmakers have also approved recently the construction of a €347 million anti-migrant wall.

Human rights groups have criticised both Poland and Belarus for their harsh treatment of migrants and refugees, who face cold weather and a lack of food and medical care. At least seven people have died so far trying to make their way into the country. Other people are also reported to have died on the Belarusian side.

While upholding Warsaw's stance on the issue and Poland's right to protect its borders, the Catholic Church in Poland continues to provide relief work for the migrants and actively advocates for the respect of their basic human rights, through its Caritas network and the Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office of the Bishops' Conference of Poland (KEP).

In his message, Archbishop Gądecki calls on the faithful and all people of goodwill to support this effort by contributing to the special collection of November 21, stating that the Church's primary mission is the proclamation of the Gospel which calls for solidarity with the most vulnerable. The funds, he explained, will help the Church's humanitarian activities that aim to meet the growing needs of the migrants during the crisis, as well as its efforts, in the long term, to promote the integration of refugees who decide to stay in Poland.

Archbishop Gądecki ended his message by inviting Catholics to pray for peace on Poland's eastern border.

The Church in Poland will hold a special collection for Caritas Polska's work with the refugees on Sunday 21 November.

Caritas Polska is setting up 'Tents of Hope' along the Belarusian border which will offer supplies including food, medicines, clothing and thermal blankets to all who need them.

Spokesman Maciej Dubicki said: "We want the Tent of Hope to become a place of good for everyone. For foreigners and migrants who will find themselves on the Polish side and will need help. For residents who have their concerns or find themselves in a crisis and need support."

LINKS

Caritas Polska - https://caritas.pl/
Polish Bishops Conference - https://episkopat.pl/
Donate to Caritas Polska here: https://caritas.pl/migranci/