After weeks of trying to cross into Poland to try and start new lives somewhere in the European Union, hundreds of Iraqis are headed back home. The West has accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of luring the migrants to the border in an effort to cause issues withing the EU bloc. As reported by the AP:
Since Nov. 8, a large group of people, mostly from the Middle East, have been stranded in Belarus at a border crossing with Poland
MOSCOW (AP) — More than 400 Iraqis sought to fly home from Belarus on Thursday, abandoning their hopes of reaching the European Union following more than a week of tensions at the bloc’s eastern border where hundreds of migrants remain stuck.
Migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere walk at the checkpoint “Kuznitsa” at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, early Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Polish officials say groups of migrants who were camped in the cold on the Poland-Belarus border have been moved to a nearby warehouse in Belarusian territory, with some of them still harboring hopes of entering the European Union. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA via AP)
A plane carrying an unknown number of migrants from Iraq, is expected to depart from Minsk in the early afternoon and make two stops — one in the city of Erbil and another in the capital, Baghdad. A total of 430 Iraqis have registered for flights home, and most of those were already at the airport, according to Iraq’s consul in Russia Majid al-Kilani.
Migrants warm themselves near a fire as they gather at the checkpoint “Kuznitsa” at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Some of the migrants have children with them at the border in their desperate bid to reach the EU. Most are fleeing conflict, poverty and instability in the Middle East and elsewhere. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA via AP)
Since Nov. 8, a large group of people, mostly from the Middle East, have been stranded in Belarus at a border crossing with Poland, trapped as forces from the two countries face off against each other. Most are fleeing conflict or hopelessness at home and aim to reach Germany or other western European countries.
Migrant children settle for the night in the logistics center in the checkpoint “Kuznitsa” at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Some of the migrants have children with them at the border in their desperate bid to reach the EU. Most are fleeing conflict, poverty and instability in the Middle East and elsewhere. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA via AP)
The West has accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of luring the migrants to the border to use them as pawns to destabilize the 27-nation bloc in retaliation for its sanctions on his authoritarian regime. Belarus denies orchestrating the crisis, which has seen migrants entering the country since summer and then trying to cross into Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Migrants receive drinks delivered by Belarusian officials at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Polish officials say groups of migrants who were camped in the cold on the Poland-Belarus border have been moved to a nearby warehouse in Belarusian territory, with some of them still harboring hopes of entering the European Union. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA via AP)
Some 2,000 people are reported to have camped in the cold at the border, some with children, and at least 11 deaths were reported in recent weeks as temperatures have dropped. Poland didn’t want to let them in, and Belarus didn’t want them returning to the capital of Minsk or otherwise settling in the country.
Migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere gather at the checkpoint “Kuznitsa” at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Polish officials say groups of migrants who were camped in the cold on the Poland-Belarus border have been moved to a nearby warehouse in Belarusian territory, with some of them still harboring hopes of entering the European Union. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA via AP)
On Tuesday evening, Belarusian authorities offered to move people to a nearby warehouse, where they were given a heated space to stay, mattresses, water, and hot meals.
About 1,000 migrants were staying in the warehouse on Wednesday, while another 800 people remained in the makeshift camp at the border, according to the Belarusian Red Cross. It’s not clear if there are other migrants elsewhere in Belarus.
Migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere walk at the checkpoint “Kuznitsa” at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, early Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Polish officials say groups of migrants who were camped in the cold on the Poland-Belarus border have been moved to a nearby warehouse in Belarusian territory, with some of them still harboring hopes of entering the European Union. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA via AP)
The offer of shelter came after a melee broke out on the border, with migrants from Iraq and other countries, throwing stones at Polish forces massed on their side of the razor-wire fence, injuring 12, and the troops responded with water cannons and tear gas. Warsaw accused Belarusian forces of instigating the conflict, while the government in Minsk denounced Poland’s “violent actions.”
CAPTION CORRECTS COUNTRY Migrants from Iraq lineup to be registered on a special flight to Iraq at the National Airport outside Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. A plane carrying migrants back to Iraq is due to leave the Belarusian capital Minsk on Thursday, part of efforts by the Iraqi authorities to help citizens to have been stranded at the border between Belarus and Poland in the hope of getting into the European Union. Spokesman of the Iraqi Foreign Minister Ahmed Al Sahhaf said Thursday that at least 430 people have registered to return to Iraq from Belarus, and the authorities were in process of registering 50 more. (Andrey Pokumeiko/BelTA via AP)
Poland has taken a tough stand against the migrants’ illegal entry, reinforcing the border with riot police and troops and making plans to build a tall steel barrier. The Polish approach has largely met with approval from other EU nations, who want to stop another wave of migration.
Migrants from Iraq lineup to be registered on a special flight to Iraq at the National Airport outside Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. A plane carrying migrants back to Iraq is due to leave the Belarusian capital Minsk on Thursday, part of efforts by the Iraqi authorities to help citizens to have been stranded at the border between Belarus and Poland in the hope of getting into the European Union. Spokesman of the Iraqi Foreign Minister Ahmed Al Sahhaf said Thursday that at least 430 people have registered to return to Iraq from Belarus, and the authorities were in process of registering 50 more. (Andrey Pokumeiko/BelTA via AP)
But Poland also has been criticized by human rights groups and others for pushing Iraq migrants back into Belarus and not allowing them to apply for asylum.
Lukashenko, meanwhile, has rejected accusations of engineering the crisis and said his government has deported about 5,000 illegal migrants from Belarus this fall.
Migrants from Iraq lineup to be registered on a special flight to Iraq at the National Airport outside Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. A plane carrying migrants back to Iraq is due to leave the Belarusian capital Minsk on Thursday, part of efforts by the Iraqi authorities to help citizens to have been stranded at the border between Belarus and Poland in the hope of getting into the European Union. Spokesman of the Iraqi Foreign Minister Ahmed Al Sahhaf said Thursday that at least 430 people have registered to return to Iraq from Belarus, and the authorities were in process of registering 50 more. (Andrey Pokumeiko/BelTA via AP)
In May, however, he had railed against the EU sanctions imposed on his country for its harsh crackdown on internal dissent, saying: “We were stopping migrants and drugs — now you will catch them and eat them yourself.”
