EU Blames Belarus for Migrants Seeking to Cross into Poland
2021-11-10
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1The European Union is blaming the government of Belarus for a group of migrants seeking to cross over into Poland.
2Polish police published a video showing hundreds of migrants - including families with young children - camped just across the border in Belarus.
3The migrants are mostly from the Middle East.
4Poland says the migrants are being urged to push their way into the country by the government of Belarus, led by President Alexander Lukashenko.
5The situation was reported to be calm on Tuesday.
6But tensions were high along the border Monday, when some of the migrants tried to break down a border fence.
7Polish border guards blocked the migrants' entry into the EU.
8Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter that it was in Poland's interest to keep the border closed.
9He added that the actions urged by Belarus' government threatened the "stability and security" of the whole EU.
10Poland and other EU member states accuse Belarus of urging illegal migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa to cross the border into the EU.
11The critics say Belarus is doing so in answer to sanctions placed on Belarus over human rights abuses.
12Belarus, which is backed by Russia, denies the accusations.
13On Tuesday, its defense ministry called the accusations "unfounded."
14And the country's foreign ministry warned Poland "against the use of any provocations."
15The European Commission (EC) accused Belarus of illegally offering migrants easy entrance into the EU through its territory.
16An EC spokesperson said the Lukashenko government was acting in an "inhuman" way.
17"He is lying to people, he is misusing people, misleading them, and bringing them to Belarus under the false promise of having easy entry into the EU," the spokesperson said.
18The EU reacted Tuesday by strengthening visa rules for Belarusian officials.
19The move requires Belarusian government officials, lawmakers and diplomats to provide extra documents and pay more money for visas.
20In the Polish police video published on Twitter, tents and campfires can be seen in near-freezing temperatures.
21An announcement warned the migrants that crossing the Polish border is only permitted for visa holders at official border crossings.
22Two United Nations refugee agencies - the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration - called the situation "alarming."
23The agencies said they had been in contact with both the Polish and Belarusian governments and urged them to make sure the large group in the area received humanitarian assistance.
24For months, thousands of migrants have sought to illegally enter Poland.
25They have often ended up stuck in a forested area between Belarusian and Polish forces.
26I'm Bryan Lynn.
1The European Union is blaming the government of Belarus for a group of migrants seeking to cross over into Poland. 2Polish police published a video showing hundreds of migrants - including families with young children - camped just across the border in Belarus. 3The migrants are mostly from the Middle East. Poland says the migrants are being urged to push their way into the country by the government of Belarus, led by President Alexander Lukashenko. 4The situation was reported to be calm on Tuesday. But tensions were high along the border Monday, when some of the migrants tried to break down a border fence. Polish border guards blocked the migrants' entry into the EU. 5Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter that it was in Poland's interest to keep the border closed. He added that the actions urged by Belarus' government threatened the "stability and security" of the whole EU. 6Poland and other EU member states accuse Belarus of urging illegal migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa to cross the border into the EU. The critics say Belarus is doing so in answer to sanctions placed on Belarus over human rights abuses. 7Belarus, which is backed by Russia, denies the accusations. On Tuesday, its defense ministry called the accusations "unfounded." And the country's foreign ministry warned Poland "against the use of any provocations." 8The European Commission (EC) accused Belarus of illegally offering migrants easy entrance into the EU through its territory. 9An EC spokesperson said the Lukashenko government was acting in an "inhuman" way. 10"He is lying to people, he is misusing people, misleading them, and bringing them to Belarus under the false promise of having easy entry into the EU," the spokesperson said. 11The EU reacted Tuesday by strengthening visa rules for Belarusian officials. The move requires Belarusian government officials, lawmakers and diplomats to provide extra documents and pay more money for visas. 12In the Polish police video published on Twitter, tents and campfires can be seen in near-freezing temperatures. An announcement warned the migrants that crossing the Polish border is only permitted for visa holders at official border crossings. 13Two United Nations refugee agencies - the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration - called the situation "alarming." The agencies said they had been in contact with both the Polish and Belarusian governments and urged them to make sure the large group in the area received humanitarian assistance. 14For months, thousands of migrants have sought to illegally enter Poland. They have often ended up stuck in a forested area between Belarusian and Polish forces. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16The Associated Press, Reuters and VOA News reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 17We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 18__________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20stability - n. the quality of not being likely to change or move 21sanction - n. a punishment for not obeying a rule or law 22unfounded - adj. not based on facts 23provocation - n. something you do that makes someone angry 24tent - n. a structure made of metal poles and cloth that is fixed to the ground and used to provide cover and a place to sleep 25alarming - adj. causing people to feel worry or danger 26stuck - adj. not able to move anywhere