In response to EU sanctions, Belarus picks up refugees from several countries from the airport and transports them to the military zone on the border with Poland. Even if refugees are able to cross the border into Poland, which is under heavy security, they are sent back to Belarus by force. Refugees from Africa, Turkey, Kurdistan and many more Middle Eastern countries, who managed to cross from Belarus to Poland last night, were sent back to the military site in Belarus late in the day.

A young man in his twenties, who was among those forcibly returned died of starvation and hypothermia.

Refugees who are forced to travel through dense forests and swamps in Poland and Lithuania to cross from Belarus to European Union countries are faced with hunger and cold for weeks on end. Refugees, held in the military zone for two weeks, including children, are not given basic needs such as food and water. NGOs are also not allowed into the area.

Refugees in the area have called for help, telling of the inhumane conditions they are experiencing.

On 29 October MA also reported that when Belarusian soldiers confiscated the refugees’ mobile phones, one person hid their phone and secretly made contact wuth their relatives.

The refugee said, “It’s freezing and there’s absolutely no food or water. We have our children with us. We were kept for 3 days with no food or water, and only the last two days they’ve given us boiled potatoes and a little water once a day. Other than that, they’ve given us nothing. It’s very cold weather, our children are freezing.”

Meanwhile, relatives of refugees leaving Turkey have reached out to Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu.

“Turkish citizens trying to cross from Belarus to Poland are in a desperate situation! Neither Poland nor Belarus are accepting them! Our citizens have been thrown into freezing water by the Belarusian police, they are are hungry and dehydrated and their lives are in danger. A humane solution must be found.”