Under the title "Death or Return: Iraqis Stranded at the Polish Border Share Their Stories," the Al Arabiya website reported that despite Iraq starting to arrange flights to bring them back to the country since last Thursday, many Iraqi migrants stranded at the Polish border are still suffering from extremely difficult conditions amid hunger and cold while waiting for relief and a new life, with many preferring death over returning to Iraq, according to their statements.
One of these migrants, named Imad, revealed that his final destination would be Lithuania, hoping to live peacefully there. The 29-year-old Iraqi is waiting day and night in the woods of Lithuania near the Belarusian border, where the temperature reaches 4 degrees Celsius below zero. Meanwhile, Lithuania, a member of the European Union, refuses to allow him and other migrants to cross into other European countries.
Imad stated in a call with Al Arabiya that the hardship of living and the lack of job opportunities in Iraq, in addition to the deteriorating security situation, drove him to migrate and escape five months ago. He also mentioned that the Iran-aligned militia "Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq" attempted to assassinate him. He explained that he participated in the popular protests that started in late 2019 to combat corruption and choose national figures to govern the country. He added that like other young Iraqis, he faced intimidation, as well as an attempted assassination and abduction from in front of his home in the city of Samawah in southern Iraq.
In the same context, Imad, who is currently detained in the Milinous region of the city of Mendakai in Lithuania, spoke about the miserable conditions faced by Iraqi and foreign migrants due to the severe cold experienced by about 4,000 people, including children and women, in Lithuanian detention camps. He also pointed out that the official authorities in Belarus treat migrants wishing to enter Lithuania harshly, denying the facilitation of their exit by Belarusian border guards.
Imad clarified that the movement of migrants and their route operates on a GPS tracking system, and based on the point determined by someone who knows the way there, but with the presence of border guards, groups are arrested and returned to Minsk.
Regarding voluntary return to Iraq, Imad, supported by others from the detained Iraqis in Lithuania, stressed that they are determined not to return, indicating that "there is no stability or safety with the presence of militias that have abducted and killed many young Iraqis." He also added that he has a dream of a decent life and will fight for it, preferring death in Lithuania over returning, saying, "I am a stranger there and I am also a stranger here."
Migration Crisis
It is noteworthy that the Belarusian-Polish border has been experiencing a migration crisis for weeks, with Poland refusing to allow them in while most migrants wait in forests under difficult health and living conditions. Polish border guards announced new crossing attempts in recent days by several groups consisting of dozens of migrants, while a crowd of 200 people threw stones and tear gas canisters. The West accuses Belarus of instigating the crisis by bringing in migrants, mostly from the Middle East, and transporting them to the border based on promises to facilitate their passage into the European Union. Belarus, on the other hand, denies these accusations, sharply criticizing the European Union for refusing to accept the migrants.
