The Central & Eastern Europe Humanitarian Observatory released its second quarterly newsletter on 5 November, warning that Polish NGOs assisting refugees face a “precipitous decline” in international funding and volunteer numbers. The think-tank notes that operational capacity at collective accommodation centres fell by 18 % over the summer, just as anti-migration demonstrations gained traction in 80 cities.
![Humanitarian Observatory flags funding squeeze for Poland’s refugee sector]()
Analysts highlight a “securitisation drift” in Polish policy: while Warsaw continues to host about one million Ukrainian displaced persons, budget allocations have shifted toward border-security hardware and away from integration programmes. Interviews with civil-society groups reveal waiting lists of up to four months for Polish-language classes and legal-aid appointments in Warsaw and Łódź.
For employers, the gaps translate into slower work-permit processing and reduced availability of public integration courses that many assignees rely on for long-term residence renewal. The Observatory urges companies to step in with private-sector language training or sponsorship of legal clinics to keep skilled refugee talent in the labour market.
Analysts highlight a “securitisation drift” in Polish policy: while Warsaw continues to host about one million Ukrainian displaced persons, budget allocations have shifted toward border-security hardware and away from integration programmes. Interviews with civil-society groups reveal waiting lists of up to four months for Polish-language classes and legal-aid appointments in Warsaw and Łódź.
For employers, the gaps translate into slower work-permit processing and reduced availability of public integration courses that many assignees rely on for long-term residence renewal. The Observatory urges companies to step in with private-sector language training or sponsorship of legal clinics to keep skilled refugee talent in the labour market.
