Refugees Protest in Warsaw

Today about 20 refugees, all from Chechnya, and about a dozen supporters protested in front of the Office for Foreigners in Warsaw. The refugees wanted to protest about the bad conditions in the refugee centers and a general lack of programs to help them integrate.

They held banners with slogans about the right to work legally, about the health and integration of refugees and the benefits of a multicultural society. In front of the Office for Foreigners they read a petition with their postulates and spoke about their problems. On of the main problems is financial - the refugees are not allowed to work while applying for status and they receive only 70 zloties a month pocket money - which is less than 18 euro.

People working with the refugees stressed that still too few people are given legal status in Poland. Last year over 8500 people applied for refugee status, mostly Chechens. The Office for Foreigners granted status to only 186 people.

After picketing at the Office for Foreigners, people marched to the Prime Minister's office to give him a letter and petition.

Below are some photos. (Press czytaj dalej).