Doctors Without Borders: Poland Blocked Aid to Refugees Stranded at Its Border with Belarus
Despite three months of efforts by Doctors Without Borders to obtain access permits to refugees stranded at the Poland-Belarus border, the international humanitarian organization announced on Thursday that it was withdrawing its deployed personnel due to “repeated obstruction” by Polish authorities.
For weeks, hundreds of undocumented migrants have been stranded at the Poland-Belarus border in severe cold. During this time, Warsaw has taken measures to prevent refugees from entering European Union territory, including laying barbed wire along the border strip and increasing its border guard forces.
Moreover, as stated in a recent Doctors Without Borders statement, Polish authorities have repeatedly rejected the humanitarian organization’s requests for special access permits to the restricted zone and border posts in the country.
Poland and other European Union member states accuse Alexander Lukashenko’s government of encouraging migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan, and African countries to enter the European Union through Belarusian territory in retaliation for EU sanctions against Belarus.
The Belarusian government, while denying involvement in creating this crisis, holds the United States and the European Union responsible for the plight of migrants stranded at the country’s borders.
Doctors Without Borders has described the current situation as “unacceptable” and “inhumane,” emphasizing that individuals have the right to seek security and asylum and should not be returned to Belarus.
The organization has also expressed concern that the continuation of this situation and the lack of access by humanitarian organizations to people in need of assistance could lead to an increase in deaths among refugees.
Reports indicate that several refugees and migrants have died in recent weeks while attempting to enter Polish territory.
Despite this crisis, Warsaw announced this week its intention to build a permanent wall in place of the temporary fence at the Belarus border.
Source: Radio Farda
