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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV: POLAND UKRAINE REFUGEES
HEADLINE: Poland Struggles to Assist Millions of Ukrainian Refugees
TEASER: Poland confronts refugee burden
PUBLISHED AT: 06/22/2022, 5:15 pm
BYLINE: Greg Flakus
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Warsaw, Poland
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEOGRAPHER: Greg Flakus
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 2:45
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:
EDITOR'S NOTE: FOR PRODUCTION THURSDAY))
((INTRO))
[[Poles have generously welcomed refugees from the war in neighboring Ukraine in the past few months. But absorbing more than 3 million refugees is a big challenge for Poland, which has a population of about 38 million. As Greg Flakus reports from Warsaw, other European nations are providing help, but the burden could become untenable for Poles if the war continues much longer.]]
((NARRATOR))
Poland has taken in more than half of the Ukrainians who have fled the war, and Poles have opened their homes to the mostly women and children, according to Agnieszka Kosowicz, president of the nonprofit Polish Migration Forum.
((Agnieszka Kosowicz, Polish Migration Forum))
“An overwhelming majority of Poles are not only assisting migrants or helping migrants or declaring pro-migrant sympathy but are directly involved and host refugees in their homes.”
((NARRATOR))
All over Poland, there are Ukrainian flags and other signs of solidarity. In this park in Warsaw, flowers represent the yellow and blue Ukrainian flag. But Kosowicz says such enthusiasm is bound to diminish.
((Agnieszka Kosowicz, Polish Migration Forum))
“Maybe flowers are a good example because they die.”
((NARRATOR))
She says enthusiasm may wane as the burden grows on Poland’s schools, hospitals and more.
((Agnieszka Kosowicz, Polish Migration Forum))
“We expect it to slow down because there is something like compassion fatigue. Basically, it is difficult to maintain this high level of involvement and support for a long term.”
((NARRATOR))
As Ukrainians take jobs in Poland, tensions may also unfold over the labor market. It’s a concern for residents like Sonia, who did not provide surname when she spoke with VOA near a refugee center in Krakow.
((Sonia, Polish Resident))
“The Polish people don't have work because of the Ukrainians...
((Flakus, off camera)): Because they take the jobs?”
“Yes.”
((NARRATOR))
Official low unemployment figures contradict that sentiment, even though in the past three months around 100,000 Ukrainian refugee women have found jobs here.
But when the war started, an estimated 800,000 jobs, mostly in construction, were left vacant when Ukrainian men who returned home to fight the Russian invaders.
While most Ukrainian refugees here want to go back home, Agnieszka Kosowicz says many of them may not have that option.
((Agnieszka Kosowicz, Polish Migration Forum))
“I think that right now we know there are people who will not be going back even if the war finishes tomorrow, because they have nothing to go back to.”
((NARRATOR))
Recalling the painful history of what both Ukraine and Poland experienced in World War Two and under Soviet domination, Kosowicz says people from both nations yearn for hostilities to stop, but there’s still no end in sight.
((Greg Flakus for VOA News, Warsaw))
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace, Society
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 23, 2022 17:28 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
