IOM concerned for migrants facing ‘dire conditions’ at EU-Belarus border

---

Reports of cross-border pushbacks and lack of key23972 adequate asylum access for those seeking international protections, shelter and assistance, were “particularly alarming”, according to the UN agency.
Tweet URL Many migrants have been stranded at the EU-Belarus key23973 border in extremely harsh conditions for several weeks. IOM urges States to ensure people’s well-being and human rights, and to allow humanitarian access to all migrants in need of assistance: vape stores prince albert IOM - UN Migration 🇺🇳 UNmigration Noting that border management is a country’s sovereign prerogative, the Organization called on all States to uphold the rule of law at the borders and to respect the human rights and freedoms of all migrants, regardless of immigration status.
“Migrants should not be instrumentalized. Their protection and respect of human rights must be at the heart of any State response”, IOM said. 
Countries apply state of emergency Last month the UN refugee agency key23974 (UNHCR) voiced concern about a group of 32 Afghans stuck for more than three weeks on the Poland-Belarus border.
Acknowledging key23985 the challenges posed by recent arrivals to Poland, Christine Goyer, the UNHCR’s representative in the country called on the Polish authorities “to key23984 provide access to territory, immediate medical assistance, legal advice, and psychosocial support to these people”.
The call came after Polish Defence Minister key23978 Mariusz Blaszczak said that a key23979 new 2.5-metre-high solid fence would key23980 be built along the country’s border with Belarus.
On Friday, a state of emergency took effect in areas of eastern Poland after thousands of migrants from Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere tried to key23975 illegally cross into the country from key23982 Belarus in recent weeks.
Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have all key23971 reinforced their borders and Lithuania and Latvia also declared states of emergency this summer. 
'Unacceptable situation' According to the IOM, the migrants stranded at the EU-Belarus border have for several weeks key23983 had limited access to drinking water and food, medical assistance, sanitation facilities and shelter.
Prolonging this “unacceptable situation” is a grievous threat to the migrants’ lives and health, it said. In addition to respect for migrant rights key23981 to be upheld, the IOM appealed for restraint, dialogue, and international key23977 cooperation and said key23976 it “stands ready to support concerned States ... to ensure the effective management of migration, that can reduce vulnerabilities and ensure that the vital needs of migrants are met”, spelled out the UN agency.