Nearly one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland are living under EU protection — one of Europe’s largest displaced communities. A new UNHCR-Deloitte report reveals that their presence boosted Poland’s economy by 2.7% of GDP last year, with their employment rate rising from 61% to 69%!
But amid these economic gains, a tough question looms: should they build a new life in Poland or wait for peace in Ukraine to return home? Over half of the refugees are still uncertain about when, or even if, they will go back.
At the Ukrainian Home NGO in Warsaw, everyday stories illustrate this dilemma. Take Michal, a 65-year-old refugee who once depended on a modest pension of about $60 in Ukraine. Now, seeing his wife earn over $1,100 per month in Poland, he reflects, "Maybe if something changes in Ukraine, then I will go back, but otherwise it's hard." 🤔
This mix of hope for a peaceful future and the promise of better opportunities in Poland highlights the resilience of a community caught between past hardships and new beginnings. It’s a story of balancing economic progress with the longing for home, a dilemma that many are navigating in today’s changing landscape.
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Ukrainians in Poland weigh should they stay or should they go
cgtn.com
