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Written question asked by Alex Norris (Labour) on Monday, 13 December 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 December 2021. It was answered by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 December 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Belarus: Poland

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure migrants on the Poland-Belarus border are able to access humanitarian assistance.

Answer

As the Foreign Secretary wrote on 14 November [https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/we-must-stand-together-for-freedom-and-democracy], the situation at the Polish border marks the latest step by the Lukashenko regime to undermine regional security. He is using desperate migrants as pawns in his bid to create instability and to cling on to power regardless of the human cost. We have made clear to the Belarusian authorities, including through their Ambassador to the UK, that this harmful, aggressive and exploitative behaviour must stop.

The UK is supporting its humanitarian partners to help alleviate the suffering of migrants at the border, including through our contributions to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, organised by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and through our political advocacy. As President of the G7, the UK led on an 18 November Foreign Ministers statement, which called on the Belarusian regime to provide international organisations with immediate and unhindered access to deliver humanitarian assistance. We were also pleased to send a small team of personnel to Poland to provide engineering support to ease pressure at the border. The Foreign Secretary discussed the situation with her Polish counterpart on 16 November, reiterating the UK's support and solidarity with Poland.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
92066
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Humanitarian aid Migrants Poland Belarus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk