Why is Access to Aid and Assistance Vital in the Poland-Belarus Border Area?
Andreas Spaett of MSF highlights the importance of having visibility in the densely forested border area between Poland and Belarus to provide necessary help.
- All individuals seeking protection in Poland should be treated with humanity and dignity.
- Access to the buffer zone for humanitarian organizations is crucial in meeting acute needs.
What Medical Assistance Has MSF Provided in the Border Zone?
Within the first six months of 2024, MSF conducted 99 interventions and offered urgent medical help to 142 individuals facing various health issues.
- Patients were treated for exhaustion, gastrointestinal infections, violence-related injuries, and other conditions.
- Most individuals treated by MSF have been stranded in the ‘death zone’ for prolonged periods without adequate food or water.
What Measures Does MSF Recommend for Helping Individuals in Need?
MSF urges Polish authorities to make significant changes to ensure humane treatment of protection seekers in the region.
- Guarantee access to humanitarian aid, medical care, and asylum processes for all in need.
- Allow independent humanitarian access to the entire border area, including the buffer zone.
- Reassess legal changes that may promote violence at the border.
- Combat harmful narratives surrounding aid efforts and dehumanization of protection seekers.
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Source: www.msf.org