Providing asylum – Spatial distribution of accommodation facilities for Ukrainian refugees against the background of local conditions in a less developed Polish region

Abstract

Motives: The war in Ukraine has led to the need to help millions of refugees. Poland has issued the highest number of first residence permits to Ukrainian refugees, and it is the second most popular destination country for the Ukrainians taking long-term refuge. Polish society has shown commendable solidarity – individuals have hosted Ukrainian refugees in their homes, businesses provided shelter in tourist sites, and other organizations – in their facilities. This study highlights an important issue that is usually overlooked in academic studies. Many refugees benefited from the assistance of reception points for accommodation and were directed to places where accommodation was arranged. As a result, thousands of refugees were directed to less developed regions with higher unemployment rates and lower income levels.Aim: The study aimed to present the spatial distribution of the currently used accommodation financed by the Polish state in a less developed region against its socio-economic characteristics. The study focused on powiats (counties), the second-level unit of administration in Poland.Results: The spatial distribution of accommodation facilities was not based on the favorablesocio-economic attributes of the area but solely on the availability of premises that could be promptly adapted for shelter purposes.