Migrants Caught Between Belarus & European Union

Bruzgi, Belarus —(Map)

Migrants from the Middle East are being caught up in a political battle between Belarus and the European Union (EU). Thousands of migrants are stuck on the border between the two sides with temperatures dropping below freezing.

Belarus is accused of encouraging thousands of migrants to come to the country in the hopes of reaching the EU. Most of the migrants are from Middle Eastern countries like Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

Belarus’s actions have led to thousands of migrants camping out in freezing temperatures on the borders between Belarus and Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Migrants report that Belarus has taken them to the border and even given them wire cutters to help them break through fences. In some cases, people from Belarus have guided migrants to border areas that are poorly guarded.

Belarus’s actions have led to thousands of migrants camping out in freezing temperatures on the borders between Belarus and Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The migrants above hope to cross into Poland.

EU leaders say Belarus is using the migrants for “political purposes”. They believe Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is trying to get back at them for putting sanctions on Belarus. Mr. Lukashenko knows the migrants don’t have permission to enter the EU, and yet his government encouraged them to come.

EU leaders say Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is using the migrants for “political purposes” to try to get back at them for putting sanctions on Belarus. Above, Mr. Lukashenko in a meeting yesterday.

The EU doesn’t want to accept the migrants. It’s afraid accepting them would encourage an even larger flood of migrants to put themselves in danger. At least 11 people have died in recent weeks.

Poland says that there have been over 5,000 attempts to cross the border from Belarus in the last month. Last year there were only 88 attempts all year long. On Saturday, about 50 people broke through the border to Poland.

Yesterday, the situation in Poland became more tense as migrants who had come through the Belarus border threw rocks at Polish soldiers. In response, Polish soldiers used tear gas on the migrants and sprayed them with water cannons in an attempt to push them back.

Some steps have been taken to limit new migrants headed to Belarus. Many airlines have already paused flights to Belarus. Some countries have stopped allowing people from Iraq, Yemen, and Syria to travel to Belarus. Iraq says it will begin flying its citizens home on Thursday.

Yesterday, the situation in Poland became more tense as migrants who had come through the Belarus border threw rocks at Polish soldiers. In response, Polish soldiers used tear gas and sprayed the migrants with water cannons in an attempt to push them back (above).

Mr. Lukashenko says Belarus is trying to encourage the migrants to return home, but that many don’t want to go. Some EU politicians are discussing paying another country, such as Ukraine, to take the migrants.

The EU has now put more sanctions on Belarus, but it’s not clear whether this will have any effect. This marks the fourth time the EU has put sanctions on Belarus in about a year.

EU leaders have asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to end the situation. Russia is one of Belarus’s few allies. Russia says it’s not behind Belarus’s actions, but it also says Mr. Lukashenko isn’t to blame. Russia’s relations with the EU are tense, and Mr. Putin may not be sorry to see the EU put in a difficult position.

So far, there’s no clear way out of this dangerous situation for the migrants. And as the situation gets more violent along the border, many people are worried that a larger conflict could develop. Above, a view of the Belarus-Poland border from the air.

So far, there’s no clear way out of this dangerous situation for the migrants. And as the situation gets more violent along the border, many people are worried that a larger conflict could develop between Belarus and its neighbors.