The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) set up its office in Poland in March 2022 to support refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. This work expanded in late-2022 to include refugees crossing irregularly from Belarus. Three years on, after providing vital assistance to more than 330,000 people, we are closing our operations. We are very proud to have worked largely through local partners on important programming and advocacy work, and to have transferred 50 per cent of our total funds to partner organisations.
NRC in Poland concludes its operations after three years of vital work
While the situation in the region remains precarious and the war in Ukraine continues to drive need and displacement, we have taken this decision with hope and promise. The partners we have worked with and the Polish government are well placed to continue critical programmes, and we stand ready to work with our partners again should the need arise.
While the situation in the region remains precarious and the war in Ukraine continues to drive need and displacement, we have taken this decision with hope and promise. The partners we have worked with and the Polish government are well placed to continue critical programmes, and we stand ready to work with our partners again should the need arise.
Helping new arrivals
Since the start of our response, we’ve provided a range of assistance to those fleeing the war. This has been through partner organisations as well as through direct support from NRC.
Our transit site at the East Warsaw train station, for example, supported over 100,000 new arrivals. Many of those working at the centre were themselves refugees from Ukraine.
Julia, 28, arrived at the transit site with her daughter Jeva, 9, in 2022.
“We had just arrived at the station after 12 hours travelling by train from Ukraine. We were tired, hungry and scared, and we knew nothing about what was going to happen to us next. Where would we sleep? How would I support us and take care of my daughter?” she said.
Then Max appeared. “He was a lifesaver. He was standing on the platform when the train arrived at the station. Then he helped us with our luggage and told us what kind of help we could get at the transit centre. He and his colleagues are making a huge effort.”
Strength through partnership
NRC in Poland have worked with amazing partners to provide cash assistance, housing, legal aid, education, livelihood support, and protection from violence – helping people meet their basic needs and recover. We’re excited that even once our office closes, much of the crucial work we’ve been involved in will continue through our partners.
This includes the Better Learning Programme (BLP), an NRC flagship programme designed to help children and adolescents who have experienced trauma because of conflict or displacement. We have rolled out this programme across Poland in partnership with the Center for Citizenship Education (CCE).
Although our main response focus has been the war in Ukraine, we expanded our scope in 2022 to include the Poland-Belarus border. There we supported local organisations providing lifesaving assistance and protection services to refugees crossing into Poland irregularly from Belarus.
Ending on a high note
NRC’s programmes will continue at scale in neighbouring countries, with our teams continuing to work with communities in both Moldova and Ukraine. Importantly, we will also retain the ability to resume working with and through local partner organisations in Poland if the situation deteriorates.
“While in some ways the work is never done, we end on a high note and with great relationships in place should we need to come back,” says Neil Brighton, country director for NRC in Poland.
“Our work in Poland has been important and high quality throughout. We have strived to complement the efforts of local and national authorities and civil society, and we are pleased that the current situation allows for international NGOs like NRC to scale down. In a world where needs continue to rise in many places, it’s crucial that we use our resources where they are needed most.”
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