GRODNO, 17 November (BelTA) - The use of special means by Polish security forces, including gas and water cannons, frightened both adults and children, one of the refugees from the temporary accommodation center in the transport and logistics center near the Bruzgi checkpoint told BelTA.
In the afternoon of 16 November, the situation on the Belarusian-Polish border became tense. Some of the refugees from the makeshift camp tried to get into Poland. In response, the Polish side used force, water cannons, flash grenades, tear gas.
"We tried to cross the border out of desperation. Europe is not in a hurry to solve our problem. In response, they hit us with gas. It was really scary, even for me, an adult, never mind the children,” the man said. He added that he experienced eye pain and stifling cough. Wet clothes caused serious discomfort as the temperature outdoors was nearly zero.
“It is great that we have been settled here,” the man pointed to the logistics hub. “We were able to change clothes. We were provided with warm clothes, other necessary things. We slept under the roof,” he continued. The man, however, had worries about his friends with young children. He lost contact with them because of yesterday's developments at the border. He could not contact them as his phone ran out of power. He said it was most likely that these people had remained in the makeshift camp near the border.
“For many of us there is no way back to Iraq. Germany has promised to take us in. We will get there,” he said.
