This report provides an overview of the protection needs and risks faced by refugees from Ukraine coming to Poland after February 24, 2022. The data analysed in this report was collected during the Protection Monitoring (PM) conducted by the IRC in January, February and March 2024. It aims to provide knowledge and understanding of the conditions in which people from Ukraine live, whether they have access to services and documentation, and to identify areas requiring urgent attention and intervention.

The most significant current needs of respondents in the IRC Protection Monitoring remain relatively unchanged, revolving around accommodation, access to healthcare and employment.

In this quarter, the IRC’s Protection Monitoring (PM) Report identifies critical protection risks related to accommodation, legal identity and the specific vulnerabilities of older refugees.

Protection Risk 1: Insecurity of Tenure and/or Risk of Homelessness

  • The report identifies significant accommodation challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Uncertainty, overcrowding, inadequate conditions, and high costs in collective accommodations are prevalent issues. Discrimination in the housing market further exacerbates difficulties, particularly for the most vulnerable groups.

Protection Risk 2: Restricted Access to Legal Identity

  • The report highlights significant risks associated with the legal identity of Ukrainian refugees in Poland, emphasizing the issue of documentation. Recent legal changes have intensified these issues, particularly for men aged 18-60 who face movement restrictions and complications in accessing consular services and legal documents.

People at Risk: older refugees

  • In this cycle, the impact of threats on vulnerable populations, particularly older people, has become increasingly evident. Their situations have been highlighted, and a dedicated section of the report addresses their unique challenges. Older individuals play a vital role in supporting their communities by sharing values, memories, culture, and solidarity. 

“One mother was in such a difficult economic situation that she had to return to Ukraine. Another woman says she can't afford to rent an apartment and doesn't know what to do. We hear this from parents when they take their children out of school, they try their luck in Germany, and then they come back. It's very hard here with renting, and they face discrimination in the housing market,” School authorities representative, Gdynia, KII

Learn more about the IRC's work in Poland.

Available documents & links