Poland is far behind the rest of European countries in terms of access to shelters, the “Puls Biznesu” (PB) daily wrote on Thursday, adding that the new government does not rule out that it will want to build such facilities in cooperation with developers.
The paper noted that the previous government asserted that an audit completed in 2023 by the National Fire Service had identified 235,000 buildings that could serve Poles in an emergency and would be able to accommodate more than 49 million people in total.
However, it pointed out that the list included not only shelters but also so-called emergency shelter sites and protective structures.
Earlier in March, Poland’s Supreme Audit Office warned that only less than 4 percent of the country’s population of nearly 38 million could currently count on a place in shelters and hiding places, but “citizens do not know where to look for a safe place of refuge in case of threats.”
By comparison, shelters in Switzerland, which has a population of 8.7 million, can accommodate 9 million people.
In an interview with the PB, Ewa Leszczyńska, in charge of supervision and implementation schedules at Schron.pro, a company that designs and builds shelters, pointed out that among potential shelters, the government mentions, among others, the Warsaw subway, which, in her opinion, falls short in terms of defensive qualities.
She also emphasized that Poland also lacks emergency procedures, designated evacuation routes, and infrastructure that would provide electricity or water.
The daily reminded that the current ruling coalition has announced that the issue of shelters will be regulated, and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and the Ministry of Defense are working on a draft law on civil protection and a regulation on technical conditions for the use of protective structures.
However, it pointed out that the list included not only shelters but also so-called emergency shelter sites and protective structures.
Earlier in March, Poland’s Supreme Audit Office warned that only less than 4 percent of the country’s population of nearly 38 million could currently count on a place in shelters and hiding places, but “citizens do not know where to look for a safe place of refuge in case of threats.”
By comparison, shelters in Switzerland, which has a population of 8.7 million, can accommodate 9 million people.
In an interview with the PB, Ewa Leszczyńska, in charge of supervision and implementation schedules at Schron.pro, a company that designs and builds shelters, pointed out that among potential shelters, the government mentions, among others, the Warsaw subway, which, in her opinion, falls short in terms of defensive qualities.
She also emphasized that Poland also lacks emergency procedures, designated evacuation routes, and infrastructure that would provide electricity or water.
The daily reminded that the current ruling coalition has announced that the issue of shelters will be regulated, and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and the Ministry of Defense are working on a draft law on civil protection and a regulation on technical conditions for the use of protective structures.
Source: PAP, portalsamorzadowy.pl
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