Humanitarian fears grow after Poland bans NGOs from accessing emergency zones near Belarus border

Polish activists say migrant rescue operations are down near the Belarus border after a state of emergency prevented aid workers and journalists from accessing emergency zones.

Under a state of emergency ruling, Poland does not allow NGOs access to an emergency zone, where many refugees and migrants are stranded because of a political row between Belarus and the West.

Grassroots activists working near the border have received nearly 3,000 calls for help since mid-October, indicating signs of a growing humanitarian crisis.

With the lack of large-scale organisations allowed to work on the ground, the situation is being compounded.

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