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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: YE: Poland Belarus
HEADLINE: Europe Fears Poland-Belarus Migrant Crisis Will Continue in 2022
TEASER: Poland accuses Belarus of weaponizing migrants as experts predict small groups will continue to cross border
PUBLISHED AT: 12/20/2021 at 3:10pm
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, AP, SR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AFP, APTN, Reuters, Teams
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:22
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: VPKGF
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[2021 saw a new migrant crisis on Europe’s borders – as thousands of asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa travelled to Belarus and tried to cross the border into Poland and the European Union. Henry Ridgwell reports.]]
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF MIGRANTS))
((NARRATOR))
Winter’s sub-zero temperatures have not stopped the migrants at Poland’s border. This group was rescued from a swamp by Polish soldiers. Medics said they were lucky to survive.
Europe has long experienced migrant crises. But the emergency on Poland’s border was manufactured, say analysts, with the weaponizing of migrants by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
((Agnieszka Kubal, Migration Rights Expert at University College London))
“In order to retaliate – retaliate (against) the support for his political opponents by the EU countries, and also for the set of sanctions that were put by the EU on Belarus in the aftermath of the rigged elections (in 2020).”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF MIGRANTS IN MINSK))
Lukashenko relaxed visa restrictions for migrants from the Middle East and South Asia – including Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
Europe accused Lukashenko of luring them to Belarus – and then directing or even ferrying them the EU border. Lukashenko denies creating the crisis.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF MIGRANTS AT LITHUANIA BORDER))
The first migrants crossed into Lithuania in July. By August, far greater numbers were gathering on the Polish frontier.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF CLASHES AT POLISH BORDER))
Polish authorities moved quickly to reinforce the border, imposing a state of emergency and blocking access to journalists and aid groups. The migrants - seeking asylum in Poland - were pushed back in often violent confrontations. Belarusian soldiers then forced the migrants back to the frontier. Many reported being beaten and threatened – with nowhere to go.
((Migrant (Male, in English) ))
“As you see, everybody almost died of the cold, hunger, everything."
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF CLASHES AT POLISH BORDER))
Poland accused Belarus of conducting a hybrid war.
((Mateusz Morawiecki, Polish Prime Minister (in Polish) ))
"We know that this is a fully planned operation, which aims to disrupt the sovereignty of our country. Lukashenko’s regime uses civilians as weapons of a hybrid war.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF MIGRANTS AT POLISH BORDER))
Poland passed emergency laws to deal with the crisis.
((Agnieszka Kubal, Migration Rights Expert at University College London))
“It gave priority of pushing people to the border, so the practice of pushbacks, over recognizing their asylum claims. On the one hand Europe seems to be the beacon of human rights and democracy and on the other hand it is engaging in those very legally dubious practices.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF EU COUNCIL MEETING))
Europe imposed further sanctions on Belarus.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF PUTIN AND LUKASHENKO))
Meanwhile Russia gave its support to President Lukashenko – blaming Europe for the humanitarian crisis.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF MIGRANTS LEAVING ON PLANE))
With the route to Europe effectively closed, the flow of migrants has slowed. Hundreds have been flown back to their home countries. But analysts believe the crisis is far from over.
((Agnieszka Kubal, Migration Rights Expert at University College London))
“Lukashenko will resort to the strategies that worked throughout the summer and autumn, of smaller groups of people being pushed across the green borders.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF MIGRANTS AT POLISH BORDER))
Geopolitical tensions and migrant pressures have converged to form a new crisis on Europe’s eastern flank – that looks set to continue into 2022.
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.))
NewsML Media TopicsPolitics
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateDecember 20, 2021 18:24 EST
Brand / Language ServiceUS Agency for Global Media
