Poland could start taking in Syrian refugees for medical treatment

Syrian refugees may be brought to Poland for medical treatment, a high-level senator said on Friday.

Poland's conservative government had previously refused to accept any migrants under the EU relocation plan, which hoped to ease the pressure of traditional landing ports in Greece and Italy.

After the election of a new prime minister this month, and the EU's decision to open a censure process over other government policies, Poland had a change of heart and has started considering bringing refugees for treatment.

Adam Bielan, the conservative deputy senate speaker said that a "discussion on the subject is taking place within the government".

He added, "I believe that we can consider temporary aid to those most needy, elderly people, small children, especially Christians," stressing he was not speaking for the government.

Bielan also said it should outline how long patients would require treatment, how long they would stay in Poland and what happens when they are ready to return to Syria.

In 2017 alone, over 3,000 migrants have died while making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean, according to the Missing Migrants Project. 

Two months ago, tens of thousands of Poles marched through the capital Warsaw in an independence day event organised by a nationalist movement that calls for a "white Poland".