OhI have always had a thought in my mind: “I have children in my family, I can’t go to jail, I can’t go to jail.” Politics is beyond the reach of me or the victims on the Polish-Belarusian border. It involves the outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel getting in touch with German President Alexander Lukashenko. BelarusIronically, over 50 media workers gathered on this border, and Poland is the only place in the EU where journalists cannot report freely.
At the same time, the harsh Nordic winter was approaching, and my fingers froze in the dark snowy night.
The border situation shows the gulf between legality and morality. It surpasses the efforts of those who save lives. All we activists in the forests on the border between Poland and Belarus can do is to provide desperate people with water, food and clothing. However, the execution of this basic humanitarian act requires concealment. We must hide and dive into the forest. Attracting the attention of border guards, police or military forces will force another counterattack.
I met different groups in the woods: families, mothers with children, fathers with disabled children, the elderly, and people from the most vulnerable groups in the world-race, religion, and LGBTQ+. They sought freedom, but found that they had been pushed back to Belarus 5, 10, or 15 times since August until December.
When walking at night, I wear a large backpack, which is filled with bottles filled with hot soup, socks, boots, jackets, gloves, scarves, hats, plasters, medicines and power banks. When I heard the sound of a helicopter or saw the bright eyes of the police, I walked in the dark and hid behind a tree. I heard the splash of soup in the container on my back, and I heard the sound of my shortness of breath—no one taught me to be invisible like a professional soldier. I have been working in human rights for many years and have visited most of the EU’s borders and refugee camps, but I am never afraid of the crackling of wooden sticks under my feet or the rustling of trees above my head when I walk around.
From personal stories and evidence collected by colleagues from Minority Rights International and Grupa Granica, we know that there are at least 5,000 people in the forest, and there are currently at least 1,000 people. We are always in touch with everyone: the desperate victims of the disgusting power game between nations.
Every time we receive a call from someone in need, or a call from their mother who is still in Iraq or Afghanistan, or a cousin in Berlin, we carry our backpacks and set off. Day and night-long after losing interest in the world. Sometimes, we look for people for hours. Sometimes, due to security issues, they change locations multiple times. Sometimes, elderly grandmothers or children who have no more energy to walk are trapped in the swamps of Poland. Now, because the forest is covered with snow, people cannot call us because their mobile phones have been destroyed by the Polish army. We use thermal imaging cameras.
We will see horrified eyes, tired faces, bodies destroyed by the cold, and extreme lack of immunity after spending several weeks in the cold and humid forest. Frozen, thirsty, and hungry humans. I don’t know what hunger means. When the children complained before dinner, I gave them a piece of chocolate. I have read poverty statistics and history books. I don’t know anything about hunger.
People on the border between Poland and Belarus have not eaten for several weeks. Every few days, after violently pushing away over the barbed wire, if they had money, they might get an old potato from the Belarusian soldier. They will share this with the children. They have not drunk water for several days. Or drink swamp or rain, which can cause stomach cramps and headaches, further weakening them.
We wish them care and good luck at the end of our interaction. It is impossible for them to have enough food and water for a few days: no one can carry that much. We cannot bring people together or drive them to a safe place. That would be a crime. But letting these people die slowly is not a crime.
Where is the Red Cross, an international organization of the United Nations migrant And the UN refugee agency? Those organizations that even operate in the war zone? Give food and water to the most dangerous criminals? Is 5-year-old Elina more dangerous or less worthwhile? She had epilepsy but did not take medicine. I met her in the forest with nine other Kurds, and none of them were wearing boots. They survived wars and air strikes in their hometowns, but they may freeze to death in the Polish forests. During each obstruction, Polish and Belarusian officials took everything: money, clothes and shoes.
Nine women from the Democratic Republic of Congo may have been trafficked. When I explained the situation to them, they just cried and cried. Or the Yazidi sisters who fled the genocide in Sinjar, Iraq seven years ago, but are still struggling to find a safe place. Or a boy from Yemen who speaks fluent English. Or three gay men from Iran, desperately not being sent back to Belarusian soldiers.
We keep in touch. If they manage to hide their mobile phones, we can communicate later. They share photos and videos of Belarusian dogs. If we meet on the Polish side, please tell me the bite. They cried. They solicit opinions. They don’t want to tell their family about their plight, but they need someone to talk about it.
“Fifth fight back. At six o’clock, I will kill myself.”
“I lost my son. He has asthma. [The] Last time he called [was] Three days ago. Do you know where he is? “
“When will you arrive? Do you have water? Even a drop?”
Under the influence of false propaganda activities, refugees received conflicting reports from Belarusian service agencies, which distributed forms or Germany. This inspires hope for a safe journey. But the real purpose is to place them on the Polish border and put pressure on the European Union. Some disturbing reports indicate that as part of Belarus’ attempts to provoke Polish officials, immigrants were forced to participate in violence.
Faced with the risk of escalating violence, we forest activists want to remind the world that refugees are not invaders. They are the hostages of the Lukashenko regime, and the Lukashenko regime uses them on its agenda.
The Poles sent me a message: “Where should I send my warm dark clothes?” “What’s the situation at the border? The media only showed us the video [the] Ministry of Poland or Belarusian authorities. “When I put my child to sleep, I cry. Please, write something useful. “
The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Dunja Mijatović spent four days in Poland and came to the scene with us. She said: “The greatest strength of the refugee and refugee aid movement on the border between Poland and Belarus is the residents of neighboring towns-in emergency areas and neighboring towns. It is their compassion and empathy that prolongs the lives of people in the forest. Their bravery and selflessness. Their benefits can save lives.”
Of course, others have different opinions: the people who help at the border are the “enemy of the state”, “the agent of Lukashenko”, “crimes that undermine European values”, and “invite terrorists here.”
We feel guilty for leaving the water bag in the woods because of our thirst. We feel guilty for sharing soup. Put the shoes on the cold feet that can no longer move. If help is illegal, do we even understand what a crime is?
Anna Alboth is a volunteer for the minority rights organization
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritan Can be contacted by 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the U.S, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Ask for support at 800-273-8255 or chat. You can also send a text message to HOME to 741741 to contact the crisis text consultant.In Australia, crisis support services lifeline It is 13 11 14.Other international help lines are available at www.befrienders.org
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