Polish gov't allocates more than EUR 700 mln for humanitarian aid - min

The Polish government is earmarking nearly PLN 3 bln for development and relief efforts in other countries, said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Michał Woś on Wednesday.

This money will be used directly in crisis situations, that is, for the construction of hospitals, for the provision of medical assistance, for basic safeguards and to support refugee camps, said Minister Woś in an interview with Polish Radio Katowice on Wednesday.

As he stated, these funds reach the needy in different ways. Either they are sent directly to the states, or it is done through organisations, via those which operate on the spot or those which cooperate with other institutions, such as the Church. "This is very important to us, because our government's policy is to provide assistance on the spot, or as close to the place where the crisis is," said Woś, stating that such a policy is also a form of counteracting the migration crisis that is a problem for the EU.

The minister stressed that Poland is aware of its responsibility as a member of the international community, hence its allocation of considerable resources to development and humanitarian aid.

"Of course, the most important and absolute priority, above all, is the human being, and helping the needy, those people affected (…) by armed conflicts," said the commissioner for humanitarian affairs.