Polish government adopts detailed plan for nationwide mass evacuation in crisis

In response to experiences from the war in Ukraine and recent missile strikes and air-space breaches, the Polish government adopted a comprehensive decree that builds on earlier civil-defence statutes. The decree details the division of duties among ministries, voivodes, and municipal officials for executing large-scale evacuations, requiring pre-prepared logistical plans and an efficient information campaign to inform residents of evacuation orders, routes and transport options.

Authorities must record movements of people and safeguard public and private property, including cultural assets, and guarantee safe return after danger passes. Local officials—mayors, town heads and city presidents—are tasked with identifying affected areas, estimating displaced populations, marking assembly points and securing vehicle fleets and civil-defence resources. Voivodes coordinate strategic road and rail corridors, oversee alarm systems and work with the army and the Government Security Centre, while the Minister of the Interior and Administration oversees nationwide logistics, designating safe zones for incoming refugees and ensuring shelter, care and medical facilities. The regulation gives precedence to children, pregnant women, hospital patients, care-home residents and people with disabilities, and limits evacuees’ luggage to essentials for the first 72 hours to speed loading and avoid chaos.