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"Every life must be respected. Full stop." - Marek Edelman

A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding on the EU's eastern external border: people have been trapped between Poland and Belarus for weeks. They are in danger of freezing to death or starving in the border area. Several people have already died. This misery must come to an end!

For months, the Belarusian ruler Lukashenko has been instrumentalising people from crisis areas and deliberately steering them via Belarus towards the European Union. The EU and the neighbouring states of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland are reacting to this by sealing themselves off and turning back people in violation of international law. Barbed wire, border guards and the military are used to stop the people. This policy is causing enormous suffering: men and women, families and children are wandering in the forests, starving and freezing.

For weeks, they have been encircled in the border area and stuck - because there are also armed police on the Belarusian side who do not let them back into the country. Several people have already died.

Journalists and aid organisations are not allowed access to the border area, the authorities accept the death of people. This situation is a scandal and deeply shameful.

This situation is also fatal for many Belarusians. In recent months, hundreds have only been able to escape the ongoing persecution of critics of the regime by crossing the green border - and found shelter and support in Lithuania and Poland. Both countries showed how generous European solidarity for refugees can be. For all those who are now still in Belarus and have to flee, the fences of razor-sharp barbed wire at the EU's external border cut off an important escape route. 

This shows: Those who seal off the border with Belarus are falling into the dictator's trap twice over. Lukashenko's calculations must not be allowed to succeed. One must not allow an inhuman regime to undermine one's own values. Injustice must be responded to by granting human rights. Humanity and humanity can only endure if it applies to all: human dignity is non-negotiable.

We therefore appeal:

1. the refugees must receive humanitarian aid immediately. Doctors and aid organisations must be able to carry out their important work on the ground without delay and without hindrance. This is the only way to prevent further deaths. Lawyers and journalists must also be given access. All this is also demanded by the Polish Ombudsman for Civil Rights.

2. We expect the Polish government, like every government in Europe, to respect the law. This includes human rights, in particular the right to life and integrity, as well as taboos of international law, such as the prohibition of pushing back people in danger ("push-backs") and the prohibition of torture. 

3. The right to asylum is a human right. People seeking protection within the EU have a right to individual examination of their asylum application. The German government and other EU countries should support Poland and Lithuania in registering refugees and giving them access to a fair asylum procedure.

4. People must never be made the plaything of politics in Europe. Scenarios are repeating themselves in Poland and Lithuania, as on the Greek-Turkish border, in the Aegean Sea, the Bosnian-Croatian border and in the central Mediterranean. The European Union needs humanity and the rule of law in refugee policy, not harshness and isolation. We therefore expect the German government to work for a fair and swift reception and redistribution of refugees in Europe, for example to the many cities and municipalities that are willing to receive them ("safe havens").  

We stand by the side of those who are persecuted. They all need protection and a future!We call on you to support all civil society organisations and initiatives, municipalities and churches in Poland that stand in solidarity, help people in need and defend human rights. We must not leave them alone. Publicity and donations are invaluable right now - European Solidarity Now! Europejska Solidarność teraz!