MINSK, 15 November (BelTA) - Refugees emphasize their exclusively peaceful intentions and are ready for any development, official representative of the State Border Committee Anton Bychkovsky told BelTA.
"Last weekend, 13-14 November, refugees continued to arrive in the makeshift camp on the Belarusian-Polish border near the Bruzgi checkpoint. About 2,100 foreign citizens are waiting for the crisis situation to resolve. All of them are now focused on survival. Active support from the authorities, public organizations, and concerned citizens helps them not to starve and not to freeze. Humanitarian aid was regularly brought to the camp: food, warm clothes, and hygiene products. Children were provided with hot meals in a warm tent. However, the refugees refused the offer of the Belarusian government to place children in a summer children's camp located in the vicinity. Containers for garbage, portable toilets were installed in the camp. The refugees themselves actively responded to the call to collect garbage and keep the camp relatively clean," he said.
A field press center, with electricity supply and charging equipment, has been set up for journalists.
"The refugees continued to warm up by making fires, which are now burning around the clock as temperatures are falling. Firewood was brought to the camp every day. On the morning of Monday, 15 November, the refugees, hoping for a positive outcome of the situation, collected warm clothes, tents, sleeping bags. By noon, they self-organized into a large column and began to move towards the Bruzgi checkpoint. Refugees emphasize their exclusively peaceful intentions and are ready for any development. At the head of the column are women with small children. Belarusian border guards continue to ensure security and order both in the makeshift camp itself and in the course of the movement of the refugee column," Anton Bychkovsky said.
