٠٠:٠٢:٤٢Aid was distributed to migrants by the Belarusian Red Cross, with support from the army and firefighters in the Bruzgi border area on Wednesday, as thousands of migrants remain stranded on the border with Poland.
Polish special services estimate that around 3,500 migrants have gathered in the area since last week.
Tensions in the area have been escalating, with Tuesday seeing Polish forces deploying tear gas and water cannons in order to disperse migrants gathered at the closed Bruzgi-Kuznica border crossing. Migrants proceeded to respond by throwing projectiles, resulting in the injury of nine Polish police officers.
The Polish Ministry of Defence also released footage claiming that stun grenades had been used by migrants against the Polish side on Tuesday.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday that Minsk was ready to organise flights to send migrants back to their homeland.
The migrant crisis comes amid escalating tensions between the EU and Belarus. Brussels has accused Lukashenko of orchestrating the migrant flow as part of a 'hybrid war' designed to put pressure on the bloc over sanctions. Minsk has denied the allegations.
Last month Poland strengthened border patrols on the frontier with Belarus and put up a barbed-wire fence in place in an attempt to stem the flow.
Belarus: Aid distributed as thousands of migrants remain stranded
Aid was distributed to migrants by the Belarusian Red Cross, with support from the army and firefighters in the Bruzgi border area on Wednesday, as thousands of migrants remain stranded on the border with Poland.
Polish special services estimate that around 3,500 migrants have gathered in the area since last week.
Tensions in the area have been escalating, with Tuesday seeing Polish forces deploying tear gas and water cannons in order to disperse migrants gathered at the closed Bruzgi-Kuznica border crossing. Migrants proceeded to respond by throwing projectiles, resulting in the injury of nine Polish police officers.
The Polish Ministry of Defence also released footage claiming that stun grenades had been used by migrants against the Polish side on Tuesday.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday that Minsk was ready to organise flights to send migrants back to their homeland.
The migrant crisis comes amid escalating tensions between the EU and Belarus. Brussels has accused Lukashenko of orchestrating the migrant flow as part of a 'hybrid war' designed to put pressure on the bloc over sanctions. Minsk has denied the allegations.
Last month Poland strengthened border patrols on the frontier with Belarus and put up a barbed-wire fence in place in an attempt to stem the flow.
Aid was distributed to migrants by the Belarusian Red Cross, with support from the army and firefighters in the Bruzgi border area on Wednesday, as thousands of migrants remain stranded on the border with Poland.
Polish special services estimate that around 3,500 migrants have gathered in the area since last week.
Tensions in the area have been escalating, with Tuesday seeing Polish forces deploying tear gas and water cannons in order to disperse migrants gathered at the closed Bruzgi-Kuznica border crossing. Migrants proceeded to respond by throwing projectiles, resulting in the injury of nine Polish police officers.
The Polish Ministry of Defence also released footage claiming that stun grenades had been used by migrants against the Polish side on Tuesday.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday that Minsk was ready to organise flights to send migrants back to their homeland.
The migrant crisis comes amid escalating tensions between the EU and Belarus. Brussels has accused Lukashenko of orchestrating the migrant flow as part of a 'hybrid war' designed to put pressure on the bloc over sanctions. Minsk has denied the allegations.
Last month Poland strengthened border patrols on the frontier with Belarus and put up a barbed-wire fence in place in an attempt to stem the flow.