Poland to mark civil defense shelters with international symbols

Poland's Ministry of Interior and Administration has announced plans to mark civil defense shelters across the country with international symbols by the end of the year. These markings will consist of an equilateral blue triangle on an orange background, along with white text on a green background.

Currently, over 86,000 potential shelter locations—including underground passages, tunnels, metro stations, and underground garages—have been identified via the 'gdziesieukryc.pl' application. These sites are intended for emergencies such as extreme weather or air attacks.

However, Deputy Minister of Interior Wiesław Leśniakiewicz noted that under current regulations, property managers are not legally obligated to provide access to these facilities during peacetime. Access currently relies on social solidarity and mutual aid, meaning sites may only be available during specific hours or upon contacting a manager. While access will become mandatory during wartime, the current civil protection legislation is designed to foster civic awareness and mutual responsibility rather than impose strict legal rigors.