Poland to include ‘mass evacuation plan’ in new civil protection law

Poland’s new civil protection and defense law will include a mass evacuation plan and provisions for secure government communications, Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak announced on Wednesday.

Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak (R).PAP/Marcin Obara
Speaking to private broadcaster Polsat News, Siemoniak disclosed that the government plans to allocate PLN 5-6 billion annually for the construction of shelters and other civil protection measures.
„We are focused on ensuring that 0.15% of GDP from the national defense budget is allocated to civil protection, amounting to PLN 5-6 billion annually,” Siemoniak said. He also mentioned an additional 0.15% of GDP from the budgets of the State Fire Service and Volunteer Fire Service.
Responding to queries about a mass evacuation plan similar to Lithuania’s, Siemoniak confirmed that such a plan is included in the new law. He emphasized that existing evacuation plans and regulations would be incorporated into the legislation.
„The primary perspective for this project is the situation in Ukraine. These are no longer abstract scenarios; we are considering real situations as seen in Ukraine, and we must adapt our solutions accordingly,” Siemoniak added.
(jh)
Source: PAP