The migrant crisis on the border between Belarus and Poland constitutes an “
intolerable situation
”, declared the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday (November 10th), calling for “
immediate
”
humanitarian access
.
Read alsoMigrants: Europeans in the Belarusian trap
“
I am appalled that large numbers of migrants and refugees continue to be left in dire straits, in near freezing temperatures, on the Belarus-Poland border
,” Michelle Bachelet said in a statement.
"
I urge the states concerned to take immediate measures to defuse and resolve this intolerable situation, in accordance with their obligations under international human rights and refugee law
," she added.
Protecting the right to life: a state obligation
Stressing that states have an obligation to protect the right to life, Michelle Bachelet asserted that “
these hundreds of men, women and children should not be forced to spend one more night in a freezing climate without adequate shelter, food, water and medical care
”. "
The strong security and political-oriented responses on both sides - including the increased deployment of troops - and the inflammatory rhetoric that accompanies them, only exacerbates the vulnerability and risks faced by migrants and refugees.
" , she also denounced.
The call comes as Poland announced on Wednesday that it had launched a strike against migrants massed at the border with Belarus, arresting more than fifty of them, while attempts to cross increase, and accused Minsk and Moscow to organize a crisis at the gates of Europe.
About 3000 to 4000 migrants, mainly Kurds from the Middle East, have been massed for several days in a wooded area on the eastern border of the European Union, under freezing temperatures and facing a large Polish device intended to stop them.
Read alsoPoland: the death of a pregnant woman relaunches the debate on abortion
Europeans have for weeks accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of fueling tensions by issuing visas to migrants, and bringing them to the border in revenge for European sanctions adopted against his country for its repression of a movement of opposition, after the 2020 presidential election.
"
Immediate access must be granted to humanitarian actors, as well as to other members of civil society, journalists and lawyers,
" asked Michelle Bachelet.
“
Several people have already died in recent months - governments in the region cannot stand idly by and allow more lives to be lost,
” she insisted.
She also noted that “
under international law, no one should ever be prevented from seeking asylum or other forms of international human rights protection
”.