Social media has been buzzing since Saturday with the news of Lebanese young man Ali Abdul Warith, who has been stranded for several days at the Polish border with Belarus, in a forest amid freezing temperatures, pleading to whoever hears his call: "Return me to see my mother in Lebanon." The tragedy of Ali Abdul Warith, a 24-year-old from the town of Bar Elias in Bekaa, trying to escape the economic conditions in his country, mirrors the situation of many young individuals contemplating migration, each in their own way.
Abdul Warith stated in a message that rapidly circulated in local media that he "regrets" this journey, as he has tried for a week to enter the European Union via the border between Belarus and Poland. He told AFP: "It's a miserable situation that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy; it's a nightmare. I tried to cross 5 or 6 times, and each time I was caught and deported back to the border." He mentioned that security personnel informed him that he had two options: "either die here or die in Poland."
He explained that he is one of thousands of migrants, most of them from the Middle East, who have attempted to cross the 400-kilometer border since August. The Lebanese young man recounted that during the exhausting time spent in the forest, he "drank water from tree leaves" and could not sleep due to the extreme cold, and he was once struck on the head by Polish army or police officers.
Despite feeling "exhausted and devastated," he acknowledged that border guards "are doing their job and protecting their country, as his presence and that of others is illegal." He added: "If you don't want me in Belarus, deport me to my country. That's all I ask, and I will pay for the ticket."
Abdul Warith and a Syrian family accompanying him during the challenging journey managed to contact Polish activists who provided them with winter clothing, food, and support when the guards arrived. He concluded by saying, "I refuse to die at the border. I want to see my mother."
**Recent Developments**
Sky News Arabia learned from sources close to the young man's father, Ahmad Abdul Warith, that Ali is safe and is under the care of the International Red Cross and has been handed over to Polish police, where he has submitted an asylum application.
Ghadir Khoury, director of political affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in an interview that the Polish ambassador to Lebanon visited the Lebanese Foreign Ministry and raised the issue of illegal migration to his country. The ambassador added that Poland "does not want to deal with illegal migrants as other European countries have."
Khoury also mentioned that about 10 Lebanese individuals are stranded at the Polish border with Belarus, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about this issue. He noted that the ministry had been informed of these cases and has been following up on Abdul Warith's situation since Saturday night, after the messages he sent via social media.
He explained: "The issue has taken on significant international dimensions, especially as the European Union has complained to Lebanon about groups of Belarusians encouraging Lebanese, Iraqis, and Syrians to travel as part of an organized systematic campaign for illegal migration that leads migrants to the Polish border."
He further clarified: "There lies the problem, as Poland prevents them from entering its territory while Belarus simultaneously prevents them from returning, leaving them stranded at the border."
He continued: "This situation should be avoided by seeking to understand the reasons for traveling to Belarus to prevent some individuals from falling victim to gangs that charge them $5,000 for the journey and then leave them to their fate at the Polish border."
Khoury confirmed that "the Lebanese state has no involvement in this matter, especially since these cases are classified as illegal migration, but the role of the Lebanese state and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lies in shedding light on this issue and understanding the reasons for traveling to Belarus to prevent citizens from losing their money and becoming victims of some merchants and gangs."
