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Polish-Belarusian border, February 2022

On early September 2021, Belarusian and Poland have been impacted from an inspected wave of migrants on the way to the European Union (EU). After the brand new decision of the Belarusian government to concede visa to middle-east citizens, a new Route to the EU has been spotlight, creating immediately an avalanche-effect with thousands of people on the move.

Facilitated by travel agencies, citizens from Syria, Iran and even from Cuba invested 2000 to 9000 € to arrived by airplane in Minsk, Belarusian, by airplane and with the help of a net of smugglers, led to the border hoping to quickly cross it and be driven immediately out of Poland.

At the end the same month, Poland declares the state of emergency due to the huge amount of people gathered at the Belarusian border, estimated in a number between 15000 to 20000, person of all ages, most of them in family groups.

To stop the increasing flow of people attempting the crossing through the forest, Poland immediately create a restricted area along the border where just residents can enter and where media are still banned unless with a special permit.

On November 15th, the Polish Government, without the consent from the EU, decided to build a 5 meter high wall along the entire 420 km border length. Working 24/7 on 3 shifts, the wall will be ultimate by June 2022.

One of the last untouched forest in Europe where bisons live wild, as been deface. Trees have been cut down for a 3km wide strip all along the border, with many repercussion. People living inside the strip have been badly impacted, both economically, due to the activity related to the tourism, and emotionally. Now the area is militarised with check points and patrolled 24/7 by army and police.

With the winter season at the doorstep, people living inside the strip have automatically started to mobilise to help migrants in need. A collective of already existing humanitarian organisations gathered under the name of Grupa Granica, providing help for all the people on the move, giving assistance on the field when required, translation service and even legal support to avoid push-baks and have the registration request accepted by the authority. A few institution like Michalowo town clearly declared to be pro migrants providing areas where to collect warm clothes and all the necessary to support the humanitarian organisations. From the same town has started the Green lights movement: living a green light at the window was the signal that the house was migrants welcome.

Now, after 5 months, the migratory flow has dramatically decreased, but there are still people in the forest, estimated in less than 500.