Migration crisis: Poland denounces Belarus' new "method"
Migrant at a transport and logistics center in Grodno region, Belarus, November 20, 2021 © REUTERS / Kacper Pempel
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
While the migrants camped at the gates of Europe have been gathered in a hangar, the tension does not come down.
This Saturday, November 20, Poland said that neighboring Belarus had changed tactics with migrants, encouraging them to cross its border in small groups and at various points.
Warsaw continues to refuse all contact with the Belarusian regime, and expects the crisis to last for months.
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One could believe in the beginning of appeasement this week.
Hundreds of migrants camped on the Polish border have been repatriated to Iraq.
Two thousand more were moved to a hangar.
Until then, they had to sleep on the floor, in the mud and the cold.
During a visit on the spot, the head of mission of the International Organization for Migration, based in Belarus, Mahym Orazmuhammedova, welcomed the approach.
“
It was the most humane step to take in the current situation, especially given the difficult weather conditions
,” she said
. However, we would like to remind you even today that these people must be provided with decent living conditions. We call on all countries to comply with international laws and the rights of migrants and refugees and to cooperate immediately to resolve this situation.
"
For several weeks, families have been testifying in particular to the lack of water and food.
since the start of this crisis at the gates of Europe, 11 migrants have died.
►Also read: Belarus claims to have evacuated the migrant camps on the Polish border
Strong diplomatic tensions
On the diplomatic level, tensions remain high between Minsk and Warsaw.
Poland still refuses to dialogue with the Belarusian regime, which it accuses of continuing to send migrants to its border, now in small groups.
"
We have to prepare for the fact that this problem will last for months
," Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told commercial radio station RMF FM
. Now a slightly different method has been adopted by Belarusian migrants and services. Smaller groups of people try to cross the border in many places.
"
According to Polish border guards, 195 illegal crossing attempts were foiled on Friday, November 19. “
The largest group was made up of around 200 foreigners, the others several dozen. Foreigners were aggressive, threw stones and used tear gas
, ”Polish border guards said on Twitter on Saturday. According to the minister, these attacks are directed "
without any doubt by the Belarusian services
".
For its part, the Belarusian State Borders Committee assured that "
the efforts to forcefully and brutally push back the refugees from the territories of the neighboring member states of the European Union continue
".
In Warsaw, several hundred people expressed their disapproval calling for "
Save people at the border!"
And shouting that "
Nobody is illegal
".
In Hajnowka, a town on the border with Belarus, members of the “Mothers on the border” group gathered in support of the rights of exiles.
► To listen: Grand Reportage on the border between Poland and Belarus, where migrants are hostages in a diplomatic standoff
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Poland
Belarus
International Migration