The Lithuanian-Belarussian border is littered with the bodies of migrants, who have died trying to enter the EU, human rights groups have alleged.
Sienos Grupe, a Lithuanian humanitarian organisation, has collected a list of around 30 people, whose families lost contact with them on Europe’s eastern frontier.
The group is working hard to help loved ones find their missing relatives, piecing together information and grimly scouring refugee camps, hospitals and morgues.
Much of what is happening slips under the radar, they say, as migrants and their families are often too scared to come forward, fearing a run-in with the law — and the transience of people on the move makes it doubly difficult for them to seek help.
‘No entry zone’
Complicating their effort is the complete blackout by Lithuanian authorities in the border zone, which prevents humanitarian groups and journalists from monitoring the area.
“The problem is we simply don’t know”, Vakarė, a volunteer at Sienos Grupe who asked that we not use their full name, told Euronews. “There’s this entire darkened invisible line that you’re not supposed to go past”.
“No-one knows what’s happening inside”.
People crossing the border have also accused Polish border forces of dragging dead bodies to the Belarussian side, who simply bury the remains — a claim strongly refuted by Poland.
“Migrants are meaningless, faceless people to most, they’re not even [considered as] human,” said Vakarė.
“Nobody’s very passionate about making sure their bodies aren’t left to rot in the forest”.
