Poland is accusing Belarus of arming stranded migrants

The Defence Ministry in Warsaw noted that the migrants had gathered branches from the forest and that many Belarusian media representatives were at the site.

Polish police used loudspeakers to warn the crowds in English that violence would be used if they didn't follow instructions.

Image for read more article 'What you need to know about the humanitarian crisis unfolding at the Belarus-Poland border'

The reports cannot be independently verified since journalists and aid workers have been denied access to the area ever since Poland declared a state of emergency along its border.

Similar restrictions are in place on the Belarusian side.

For several days now, thousands of migrants have been stranded in makeshift woodland camps at the Polish border as temperatures hover around freezing.

Crowds have also gathered at the Latvian and Lithuanian borders, as the migrants seek a way into EU territory.

Migrants lay down at their camp at the Belarus-Polish border in the Grodno region, Belarus, 10 November 2021. Source: AAP Image/EPA/STRINGER

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been accused of orchestrating the crisis at the European Union's eastern frontier in retaliation for sanctions slapped on his regime.

He has allegedly allowed people from crisis areas to fly to Minsk so he could divert them to EU countries on his border.

Belarusian opposition-aligned channels on the encrypted messaging app Telegram published videos on Sunday afternoon purporting to show larger groups of migrants approaching the Polish border.

Image for read more article ''We are stranded in this mess': Migrants at Belarus-Poland border plead for help'

Late Saturday, a group of about 50 migrants managed to push through a barrier near the village of Dubicze Cerkiewne. They were in Poland for several hours before being apprehended, according to Polish police.

The group was taken straight back to the Belarus border.

Critics say immediate pushbacks of asylum seekers violate international law.

But due to emergency laws currently in place for the border region, Poland says any person who enters the country illegally must leave. The EU member state has also restricted civil rights and banned demonstrations in the zone.

A separate attempt to break through the border near the town of Kolonia Klukowicze was unsuccessful, Polish authorities said. One officer was injured when the migrants threw stones at the authorities.

Migrants wait at the Poland-Belarus border. Source: WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Many of the immigrants have no shelter, or only rudimentary accommodation set up in the woods.

A 20-year-old Syrian man was the latest victim to be discovered dead at the open-air camp. His body was found on Saturday.

Poland, Lithaunia and Latvia were considering calling a NATO meeting in response to the crisis, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Sunday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, a close ally of Mr Lukashenko, said in a state television interview on Sunday that Moscow was ready to "go to any length" to help find a solution to the crisis.

Poland is accusing Belarus of arming stranded migrants

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