The humanitarian crisis on Europe’s eastern flank shows no signs of easing. Poland is pushing back multiple groups of migrants trying to get over the border from Belarus. Those who make it across – mostly young families from Iraq – are left to face harsh winter conditions out in the open. Now local Polish residents are rallying round to help.
Mothers from around Poland have come to the border region near Belarus to show their concern for the crisis unfolding here.
At least a dozen migrants have died in the forests just kilometers away, a number of them on the Polish side of the border. One of the latest victims was a one-year-old child.
The Polish government says that if it were to welcome the migrants with open arms, this would play into the hands of Belarus’s alleged plan to destabilize the EU. But it’s clear that this hardline policy has had casualties. And more tragedy is sure to come as winter approaches.
DW’s Amien Essif reports.
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