Poland- Belarus border forgotten crisis

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has prepared a field report on the situation of stranded and abandoned asylum seekers in the forests of Belarus and Poland. In this report, some natives on the Polish-Belarusian border have described the situation of the IDPs, as a very miserable and calling for an end to this humanitarian crisis.

They said that their living conditions changed after the immigrants entered the area, and that this had a serious impact on their lives. Natives, on the other hand, believe that the area is full of swamps that migrants are unaware of, and there are many people, thought drowned in the swamps.

One resident believes that the creation of a no-go zone, and the constant presence of soldiers with weapons and equipment, has frightened the people of the area, especially children, and disrupted their normal routine of life.

The lives of the people of this area have changed in many ways. They may not be able to help the migrants for fear of being accused of human trafficking, and they may seek revenge from other right-wing and extremist groups by helping the asylum seekers. This situation has also seriously damaged the tourism in this area. Freedom of movement is restricted, and normal tourist activity is impossible.

Asylum seekers are still stranded in a forested border area and need medical help, where they face frostbite. In early 2022, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was forced to withdraw its aid after authorities closed the area.

At least 21 people have died trying to cross the Belarusian-Polish border in 2022. Today, people continue to wander without food, water, shelter, warm clothing, or access to health care in sub-zero temperatures. While EU policies and limited access to organizations continue, more people are still at risk of dying in these difficult circumstances.

 

_{Source and Credit: MSF}