United Nations observers are not allowed to enter the area around the border between Poland and Belarus. Both countries did not allow the observers to look at the situation of migrants in the area themselves.
A statement from the UN human rights organization states that the observers were received by politicians and administrators and that 31 people were interviewed who crossed the border. It emerged from those conversations that the migrants on both sides of the border live in poor conditions. They are often without food, drink or sanitary facilities.
The West has accused Belarus of provoking the migration crisis on the border with Poland in retaliation for European sanctions imposed after President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s election victory in the summer of 2020, labeled as fraudulent.
Many migrants said they had been mistreated and threatened by security forces in Belarus. They were then taken to the border area by those services and indicated where they could cross the border. The Belarusians prevented people from leaving that area to return to Minsk, the migrants said.
The UN team has also heard several stories of people being sent back to Belarus directly from Poland. Those who are not returned will be detained. The UN calls on both countries to stop this and to allow humanitarian organizations and journalists to enter the border area.
Also read: How Refugees at the Polish Border Are Just a Plaything of Putin’s Operation ‘Destabilize European Union'(+)
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