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Near Hajnówka, Poland
The father's desperation is palpable.
For the group of Iraqi refugees, a long journey ends here, in the forest, right on the border between Belarus and Poland.
Polish border police are shipping them back to Belarus.
Scenes that have played back here over and over again for weeks.
Zuzana Balejko, refugee worker “Granica Group”
“They often don't even know where they are.
Some are convinced that they are already in Germany.
Or they believe that they are getting help from the government - which is not the case. "
Winter is approaching and the nights in the forests of the border areas are getting bitterly cold.
The long marches of the refugees are noticeable - volunteers bandage the sore feet.
The story of the escape that these people tell is always the same: A lot of money flowed to smugglers who were supposed to bring them to the promised Europe via Belarus.
But Poland reacts with great severity and sends them back across the border.
Mohamed, refugee from Yemen
»The Polish border guard said he was taking us to a refugee camp.
He has lied.
We drove with him and he pushed us straight back to Belarus.
Goes goes!
They took our cell phones and broke the SIM card. "
So-called pushbacks by migrants were recently legalized in Poland.
A strategy that also leaves Mohammed from Yemen in doubt.
Mohamed, refugee from Yemen (unrecognizable)
»Ok, I made a mistake, I'm here illegally. I don't have any documents, a passport or a visa. Take me to prison, let me die there. Don't let me die here in this forest. I don't know where to go There I at least know what to expect. «
There were repeated protests against the rejection of migrants; Seven people have died on the EU's eastern border in the past few months.
Poland defends its method - after all, the country is doing something against the state-organized smuggling of Belarus '' President Lukashenko, who is reacting to the EU sanctions.
The Polish government also cleared the way for the construction of a wall, and the border with Belarus is to be closed once and for all for 350 million euros.
Maciej Wasik, Vice Minister of the Interior
»We know what we have to do, we have a strategy.
Because Lukashenko will continue his actions for a long time if he is not confronted with strong resistance from our side. "
And so these scenes are likely to repeat themselves over the next few weeks and months.
These families from Iraq will also try again and again to make their way across the border - until, exhausted, they have to finally give up their attempt.