Foundation rejects criticisms by Syrian given asylum in Poland

“They are safe here and they really do have decent living conditions,” claimed Miriam Shaded, president of the Estera Foundation, in an interview with Polish Radio.

“The foundation cannot take responsibility for them not being thrifty, if they buy yogurt for PLN 12, rather than PLN 2,” she said.

She also stressed that none of the refugees was forced to apply for asylum in Poland.

Refugee Antoine Char wrote in an open letter that he felt “cheated” by the foundation.

A five-person family is supposed to receive PLN 3,000 złoty per month, yet he claims his six-person family has only received PLN 1,000 since arriving in the country last month.

“I came here with a bit of savings, but I have spent everything,” he said.

“I cannot survive until the end of the month,” he claimed, adding that all six members of the family sleep on the floor in a 30 square metre flat in Warsaw's suburb of Pruszków.

“We would prefer to die in Syria than of hunger here,” he reflected.

The Estera Foundation hopes to bring more Christians from war-torn Syria.

The cost of the asylum is covered by churches, local communities, people of good will and the English Baranbas Fund.

In a separate initiative, Poland recently pledged to accept 2,000 refugees from Syria and Eritrea as part of a major action spear-headed by the EU. Candidates for Polish asylum are currently in holding camps both in Greece and Italy, as well as in Lebanon. (nh/rk)

Source: IAR