The migration crisis in brief
Six months ago, an illegal migration flow from the Middle East and Africa came to the EU up and running. According to the European Union, that was an action by the Belarusian dictator Lukashenko, in revenge for the sanctions against his regime.
In total, Poland registered nearly 40,000 attempts by migrants to cross the border this year. Lithuania reports 8,000 cases, Latvia some 3,500 attempts. In the past, no more than dozens of people entered the country illegally via Belarus in the three countries.
The migrants were returned by Polish and Lithuanian border guards, but Belarus refused to take them back. As a result, they ended up in appalling conditions in the no man’s land in the border area. Several people have died from malnutrition and cold. According to aid organizations, there are 21 dead and missing.
–
