The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partners, are scaling up aid on the borderline betwixt the European Union and Belarus, amid worsening winter weather, which is leading to rising deaths owed to hypothermia among asylum seekers stranded there.
It is estimated that determination are up to 2,000 migrants and refugees astatine the borderline with Poland, predominantly Kurds from Iraq, but besides Syrians, Iranians, Afghans, Yemenis, Cameroonians and others. There are ample numbers of women and children among them.
For António Vitorino, Director General of IOM, the “priority is the information of these stranded migrants, upholding their quality rights and preventing much deaths arsenic temperatures stay good beneath freezing.”
“We are committed to providing humanitarian assistance and moving with authorities connected some sides of the border, and those who privation to instrumentality voluntarily volition beryllium helped by IOM to bash truthful successful a harmless and dignified way,” he said.
Migrants stranded successful harsh conditions connected the Belarus-Poland border, by UNHCR Belarus
Voluntary returns
The agency estimates the total fig of migrants and refugees presently successful Belarus at around 7,000. So far, only a constricted number have expressed a tendency to instrumentality location voluntarily.
However, successful caller days, the Government of Iraq has organized the repatriation of implicit 1,000 of its citizens. Discussions with IOM to facilitate much voluntary returns are ongoing.
IOM should beryllium providing a charter formation for each those remaining who privation to instrumentality to Iraq successful the adjacent 2 weeks. The bureau explained that the process is taking longer than usual because of COVID-19 restrictions.
At slightest 44 radical person truthful acold been assisted by IOM to instrumentality location voluntarily, with different 38 successful the pipeline.
Humanitarian aid
In caller weeks, on respective occasions, Belarusian authorities have granted IOM, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the Belarus Red Cross, access to provide assistance to those stuck successful makeshift camps.
The bureau and its partners utilized the opportunity to measure conditions and needs, distribute supplies, and assistance facilitate anyone considering returning home.
IOM was also able to supply assistance successful precocious October via the Belarus Red Cross.
Increasing numbers of migrants are moving towards the Belarus/Poland border., by Belarus Red Cross
Following the archetypal sojourn to the Bruzgi border connected 11 November, the agency secured nutrient items, covering and hygiene kits which were promptly delivered by the Red Cross. On 24 November those aforesaid recipients were supplied water and food.
Crisis ongoing
Poland, arsenic good arsenic Lithuania and Latvia, which are each EU members, person seen an summation successful the fig of migrants, galore from the Middle East, trying to participate their territories via Belarus successful caller months.
The situation has been brewing ever since the EU imposed sanctions against Belarus for cracking down connected pro-democracy protests in the aftermath of the contested August 2020 statesmanlike election, according to media reports.
The determination bloc besides condemned the forced landing by authorities, of a commercialized formation implicit Belarus this past May, and the consequent apprehension of a salient dissident and journalist.
The EU has accused Belarus of orchestrating the migrant situation successful retaliation, which the state has denied.
Earlier this month, Poland deployed thousands of troops to the borderline aft migrants attempted to tempest into the country.
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