50 Syrian Christian families arrive in Warsaw
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
11.07.2015 11:51
As many as 158 Christians from Syria landed in the Polish capital on Friday as part of an aid programme by the government and the Estera Foundation.
The group of Syrian Christians which arrived in Warsaw includes 12 cildren. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara
The group, which includes 12 children, travelled on a specially chartered plane from Beirut.
The families, mostly from the Syrian capital Damascus, arrived to Poland on the basis of visas obtained at the Polish embassy in Beirut.
“We were threatened from different sides, mainly from the Islamic State. We arrived in Poland with the hope that we will have a second home here,” said one Syrian couple, who travelled to Poland with their 9-month-old infant.
After landing at the Okęcie airport in Warsaw, the families travelled directly to a hotel.
The programme to bring as many as 2,000 Syrian Christians who are currently being persecuted by the militant Islamic State, was a collaboration between the Estera Foundation run by activist Miriam Shaded and the Polish Foreign Ministry.
The Estera Foundation, which was key to the programme is run by Miriam Shaded (L). Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara
Following the necessary formalities, the Syrian nationals will be transferred to homes organised or rented by the Estera Foundation in several Polish cities, including Warsaw, Poznań, Wrocław and Białystok.
The Estera Foundation has declared that together with other organisations, it is able to guarantee the maintenance and care for around 1,500 people in Poland. (rg)
Source: PAP, TVN24