UN Agencies Call for Access to Stranded Migrants at Belarus-Poland Border

Strategic Insights -

As four migrants were found dead at the Belarus-Poland border, the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. Refugee Agency have called for access to stranded asylum-seekers, citing the need for lifesaving medical help, food, water, and shelter. The agencies urged the governments of Poland and Lithuania to prioritize human rights and international law in addressing the crisis. The situation has become increasingly dire, with reports of pushbacks and stranded groups of people unable to access assistance or basic services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The International Organization for Migration and the U.N. Refugee Agency have requested immediate access to stranded asylum-seekers at the Belarus-Poland border to provide lifesaving medical help, food, water, and shelter.
  • The agencies have called for an investigation into the deaths of four migrants, which were attributed to hypothermia and exhaustion.
  • The nationalities of the people who died have not been confirmed, but two of the victims were believed to be from Iraq.
  • The agencies are concerned about reports of pushbacks of people at the borders, with groups of people becoming stranded for weeks without access to assistance or basic services.
  • Poland and Lithuania have introduced states of emergency, denying entry to certain border areas to anyone except border guards and security services, and have built razor wire fences along their border with Belarus.
  • The crisis at the border is believed to be a result of sanctions imposed by the EU on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's government over the country's disputed presidential election and crackdown on the opposition.

Statistics:

  • Four migrants were found dead at the Belarus-Poland border.
  • Two of the victims who died of hypothermia were believed to be from Iraq.
  • The agencies reported that groups of people have become stranded for weeks without access to assistance or basic services.
  • The EU imposed sanctions on Belarusian President Lukashenko's government in response to the country's disputed presidential election.

Sources:

  • International Organization for Migration
  • U.N. Refugee Agency
  • Associated Press (AP news wire)