The situation

A few years ago, Belarus began allowing refugees to fly into the country and forcing them across the Polish border as a way of disrupting the EU. Once in the border area, refugees and migrants become stranded in one of Europe’s last remaining ancient forests. Border guards on both sides refuse to let them (back) into the country.

Refugees and migrants who end up in this border limbo find themselves in an impossible position. The Polish authorities do not allow them to enter and push them back. Recently, the right to apply for asylum has even been completely suspended for people trying to reach the country in this way.

Refugees are stopped at the border and violently pushed back on both sides. Some refugees have said they were ‘pushed back’ as many as 20 times. They become trapped in Europe’s oldest primaeval forest, with night-time temperatures dropping well below zero. They are often ill or injured as a result of abuse or from falling from the 5.5‑metre-high border fence that has been built for more than 340 metres straight through the forest. They suffer from hunger and thirst and are often in urgent need of medical care.

Stressful and intense work for organisations and volunteers

NGOs and the media have repeatedly reported on pushbacks, abuse and the denial of essential assistance. The situation is severe and is becoming increasingly invisible, partly because access for aid organisations to these areas is almost impossible.

Organisations have to operate very cautiously to ensure that they can still reach refugees. Large international NGOs are largely absent from the region. It is small Polish organisations, local residents and volunteers who provide refugees with aid, clothing, medical care and legal assistance. This work is stressful and intense, and many aid workers are struggling with exhaustion and burnout.

What does Egala do?

Egala is one of these local organisations and was founded in 2021 by a group of courageous citizens. They provide emergency medical assistance, psychological support and legal guidance to refugees in the Białystok border region, as well as in Polish detention centres and hospitals.

For example, Egala regularly sends faxes to the European Court of Justice to ensure that the Court issues an urgent interim measure, preventing people from being returned to Belarus because of the serious human rights violations and practices of torture by border guards there.

How do we work together?

In 2022, Egala received support from the Dutch Council for Refugees for the first time through the Step Up Fund. This enabled Egala to further develop its organisational structure, expand from 10 to 35 volunteers, and design a solid plan to better safeguard the mental health of its staff and volunteers.

In 2025, we supported Egala once again. As international attention and funding for the situation in the border region continue to decline, the support now focuses on a new fundraising and communications strategy. With a contribution of €10,000, as well as through the sharing of knowledge and experience, we are helping Egala take the next step forward.

Our role in advocacy

In addition to providing direct support to Egala, we at the Dutch Council for Refugees continue to draw attention at the European level to the situation at the Polish border. We advocate for the upholding of the right to seek protection, for structural solutions within the EU, and for an end to pushbacks.

We engage in dialogue with policymakers and point out that the EU is guilty of refoulement and serious human rights violations at its external borders. This also weakens the EU as a community of values. We have a duty to treat people on the move humanely and to process their applications for protection. In doing so, we can demonstrate that in Europe we do not subscribe to the narrative of hostile regimes that exploit migrants and refugees as instruments of ‘hybrid warfare’, and we can break this vicious circle. By sharing the stories of partners such as Egala with policymakers, the media and our network, we ensure that these people are not forgotten.

Want to know more? Get in touch with us at: ip@vluchtelingenwerk.nl.