Refugees in Belarus: »They are used to put pressure on the EU countries«

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It is a humanitarian disaster at the gates of the European Union once again.

Thousands of refugees have been stuck on the border between Poland and Belarus for weeks.

About 2,000 of them were sent to an emergency camp.

But they are not doing well either.

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

"A lot of people just don't know how long they can hold out here because - they say - there is simply no life here on the concrete floor, on these shelves."

SPIEGEL is one of the selected media that are allowed to view and report on the situation on site.

The overseas ruler Lukashenko wants to convey the image to the public that he actually cares about the people.

But the mood has changed among the refugees.

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

“Just a few weeks ago, many people were of the opinion that they were really being helped here in Belarus.

Now they say, understand more and more what is happening to them here, that they are parked here, that they are also used to put pressure on the EU countries, on the neighboring state of Poland. "

Since Lukashenko's controversial re-election, the EU has repeatedly imposed tough sanctions against Belarus.

Lukashenko uses the refugees' wish to come to the EU to force Brussels to hold talks.

He allowed thousands of people to gather at the border fence with Poland, and there were also riots.

And even now the people at the border are paying the price for the dispute: because the conditions there are catastrophic.

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

There is now a fast food truck in front of the hall, but many no longer have the money to buy something.

But there are also aid organizations that hand out hot meals, and the crowds are crowded until it is finally their turn.

The World Health Organization recently got an idea of ​​the situation.

Many other helpers are not even allowed into the camp.

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

»International aid organizations are only permitted to a limited extent.

Doctors without borders, for example, not at all.

And many people cough, have a cold and also need medical help.

A serious corona case is already known.

Masks can hardly be seen.

So it should be a matter of time before the corona situation on site also gets worse.

How things will go on for the people, they do not know themselves.

You get little or no information from outside.

But the goal has remained the same for many:

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

"The majority of them still want to go further in the direction of the EU. In the past few weeks, sometimes even months, they tried several times five, six, eight times and have been pushed back again and again."

Coming to Germany in particular is a dream for many.

They ask for information on whether Merkel will let them into the country - and even chant their destination in front of the hall.

But even if the many people here in this camp have a roof over their heads, at least temporarily - the situation is far from over in the long term

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

»I am skeptical that everything is over with this.

Even if all people are not brought back to Iraq, to ​​Syria, this Belarus route, which Lukashenko created artificially, will really be closed for months.

We continue to hear reports that mainly young men are being taken away from here into the forest and continue to try to cross the border. "

So it all looks as if Lukashenko is still ready to use the refugees to keep increasing the pressure on Brussels.