MINSK, 11 November (BelTA) – The situation at the Belarusian-Polish border remains intense, representatives of the State Border Committee of Belarus told BelTA.
According to the source, as of the morning on 11 November over 2,000 refugees, including a lot of women and small children, remain at the border line in front of the Polish fence. A number of small groups – a total of about 200 people – came to the spontaneous refugee camp over the last 24 hours. The overall situation remains intense. Weather conditions, lack of food and water threaten the physical wellbeing of the people seeking protection in the European Union. Two women had to receive medical aid due to hypothermia and head traumas in the last 24 hours. Medics of the Belarusian border service also helped a child with hypothermia signs this night. Reports about the death of a refugee are not consistent with reality.
Teams of medics are constantly stationed near the refugee camp in order to provide emergency aid, particularly in night time due to a considerable decrease in air temperatures. Belarusian authorities, humanitarian organizations, and volunteers do what they can to provide the refugees with food.
Delegations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Belarus, the International Organization for Migration, and the Belarusian Society of the Red Cross will arrive at the spontaneous refugee camp today in order to evaluate the situation. Military personnel remain on guard on the Polish side of the border. They prevent reporters, representatives of international and humanitarian organizations from rendering aid to the refugees and from resolving the situation, the State Border Committee of Belarus said.
