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Poland / Belarus: without access to migrants, Médecins Sans Frontières leaves the border region

2022-01-06T16:14:25.184Z


The NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced Thursday, January 6 that it was leaving the border region between Poland and Belarus, following ...


The NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced Thursday, January 6 that it was leaving the border region between Poland and Belarus, following the blocking of organizations providing assistance to migrants and refugees.

The announcement comes after Poland, in early December, extended by three months the ban on access to the border region with Belarus, imposed in September after the start of the migration crisis caused by the arrival of thousands of migrants.

Read also Poland reports the disappearance of a soldier near the Belarusian border

In a statement, MSF explains that it sent an emergency response team three months ago to help migrants and refugees crossing the border between Belarus and Poland.

But the organization decided to withdraw its team "

after being repeatedly barred by Polish authorities from accessing the forested border region, where groups of people survive in sub-zero temperatures and are in desperate need of assistance. medical and humanitarian assistance

”.

At least 21 dead in 2021

Since October, MSF has repeatedly requested access to the restricted area and border guard posts in Poland, but without success

,” said Frauke Ossig, MSF emergency coordinator for Poland and Lithuania. “

We know there are still people crossing the border and hiding in the forest, in need of support, but while we are committed to helping them wherever they are, we have no been able to reach them in Poland

, ”she added.

Western countries accuse Belarus of orchestrating the influx of thousands of migrants to the EU borders since the summer of 2021 in revenge for sanctions imposed after the disputed elections in 2020. Minsk has rejected the accusations and blamed Warsaw for violently turning back migrants who have managed to cross the border. "

Over the past six months, Polish border guards have repeatedly forcibly returned migrants and refugees to Belarus, in defiance of their intention to seek international protection and in violation of their rights

," says MSF. .

Migrants have tried to force their way through the area by hiding in the forests, without food, water, shelter or warm clothing.

At least 21 people lost their lives in this area in 2021, according to the NGO.

In response to tensions with Belarus, Poland built a barbed wire fence and massed thousands of soldiers along the 400-kilometer border.

Access to the border area remains prohibited to any non-resident, including NGOs.

This week the government announced that it had chosen the first three companies to build the barrier that will replace the temporary fence.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-01-06

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