Providing emergency medical care at the Belarus-Poland border

In recent years, Europe has faced humanitarian emergencies at its borders due to strict immigration policies, increased security measures and externalisation of migration control. These approaches create significant health risks and exposure to violence for migrants traversing the forests at the Belarus–Poland border, most of whom originate from conflict-affected countries such as Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. MSF has been working in this context since 2022 and has provided care for nearly 450 migrants in dense wilderness. Almost one third of MSF’s patients were woman and children.

This case study examines how MSF has responded to humanitarian needs in Poland’s ‘green border’ area – the forested border region between Poland and Belarus – and how the organisation adapts to constantly changing national and regional migration policies. It seeks to provide the outline of a replicable model of medical humanitarian response in logistically challenging, insecure and politically charged environments. It contains examples of collaborations with civil society organisations (CSOs) in responding to needs at the border area, and discusses the importance, utility and challenges of collecting data to inform operational decision-making and advocacy.