Migrants at the border between Belarus and Poland are facing dire circumstances due to the extreme cold and exposure even as Warsaw (Poland) blames Minsk (Belarus) for weaponizing the migrants in retaliation against EU sanctions on it, aided by Russia.
Warsaw has taken a severe view of the migrants thronging its borders which it says is due to its neighbouring Belarus’ government misleading them and encouraging them to travel throughout central Europe to get to Poland.
Migrants have received an SMS saying “Go Back To Minsk!” and “Don’t take any pills from Belarusian soldiers”. It is being alleged by Poland and the European Union that Belarusian soldiers are handing out methadone pills to ‘help’ the migrants survive the extreme cold in the open.
“We have to protect our democracies from this kind of cynical geopolitical power play” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a meeting with United States President Joe Biden.
Poland has enacted a state of “emergency in a 3 km zone near the Belarus border and rights groups, humanitarian workers, doctors are not being allowed there. Only local residents are permitted after showing proof of residence.
Rights Groups Slam Move
Human rights and doctors are saying that the narrative of migrants being mostly single men are not true and there are many people in need to whom access to critical care and legal assistance is being blocked. They are also highlighting allegations of mistreatment and abuse of migrants by border police and soldiers stationed at the border.
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