A man believed to be from Afghanistan told Polish volunteer lawyers that the group want to apply for international protection in Poland. /Wojtek Radwanski/AFP
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has asked the Polish and Latvian governments to intervene and assist dozens of migrants stranded on the countries' borders with Belarus.
For two weeks, 32 people from Afghanistan have been camped in a no man's land between Poland and Belarus, while 41 Iraqi nationals are stuck on the Latvia-Belarus border.
The Ocalenie Foundation, an organization that assists refugees in Poland, has raised serious concerns about the health of the migrants – reporting on Wednesday that 25 members of the group were unwell and 12 people were seriously ill.
Translators have been communicating with those on the border via megaphones. There are particular concerns about the welfare of a 52-year-old mother of three who is too unwell to leave her tent.
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In the past few days, a Polish opposition MP was filmed trying to run to the group to deliver supplies and was then tackled by border guards.
The ECHR asked that Polish and Latvian authorities provide both groups with food, water, clothing, adequate medical care and, if possible, temporary shelter as part of interim measures that will run until September 15.
The court decision noted "that this measure should not be understood as requiring that Poland or Latvia let the applicants enter their territories."
The parties involved also have 10 days to answer questions for the court. Migrants cheered when they heard the announcement about the temporary measures from the ECHR, according to supporters gathered nearby.
On Thursday, Poland's Prime Minister said his country is ready to offer assistance to the migrants but noted they are on the Belarusian side of the border, so Belarus must approve them delivering aid.
Polish soldiers working to construct a barbed wire fence along the country's border with Belarus. /Jaap Arriens/AFP
The Latvian government also confirmed it will comply with the court decision. A spokesperson told media outlets that Latvia "will continue to provide food, water and medical help on humanitarian grounds to people at risk.
"It should be noted that the aforementioned measures include activities that Latvia has already been carrying out."
Poland, Latvia and Lithuania have reported sharp increases in the number of people attempting to cross the borders with Belarus over the summer. Many migrants have come from Afghanistan and Iraq. Belarus is accused of flying people in and driving them toward the borders with the European Union, in retaliation to sanctions from the bloc.
According to local media reports on Tuesday, the Belarusian foreign ministry accused Poland of provoking migrant flows from Afghanistan as part of the U.S. coalition – and blamed the breakdown in border cooperation on the EU.
On Wednesday, the Polish government confirmed the army had begun building a three-meter fence that will run 180 kilometers along the border with Belarus.
Lithuania began building a similar fence in June to stretch more than 500 kilometers. It's due to be finished by September 2021.
Announcing the fence, the Polish Prime Minister noted that 3,000 migrants have been stopped trying to enter the country, while 700 people who made it onto Polish territory are in closed centers, with many likely to be sent back to the Middle East.