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Although fewer numbers have been gathering at the border in the past few days, Poland believes the reduction is down to a change of tactics by Belarus, which it says is now moving migrants to the border area in smaller groups. Reuters
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Migrants inside the transport and logistics centre on the Belarusian-Polish border, in the Grodno region. Reuters
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A migrant woman carries her child to a Belarusian doctor near the Kuznitsa checkpoint. AP
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Belarusian doctors help people prepare to enter showering tents close to the logistics centre. EPA
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An estimated 15,000 migrants are massed on either side of the border in freezing, inhospitable conditions, with about 12,000 Polish soldiers, border guards and police in place. EPA
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Boys leave the kitchen tent near the Bruzgi checkpoint. The EU believes Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has encouraged migrants to travel to the border in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Belarus over human rights abuses. EPA
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Migrants set up beds in the transport and logistics centre. Reuters
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A man washes his faces at the centre. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DSPGTV2GPK6XRQC7HD7YF4E4NE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f139a9559d43c3b457292d4cb62662003dac5e8a135f0bcf6615f5cc81497b20&width=400&height=225)
Although fewer numbers have been gathering at the border in the past few days, Poland believes the reduction is down to a change of tactics by Belarus, which it says is now moving migrants to the border area in smaller groups. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P72SCZRCT4IRPG4JO27B57BNXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=71fd25d73eb164883d7c849b743af3437b3d383872eae851c7206948f74b5b27&width=400&height=225)
Migrants inside the transport and logistics centre on the Belarusian-Polish border, in the Grodno region. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COLYWMLHWUSOTLQN7A3FVQKAFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4afa94fe27063785de065ca573b6312ab5627afa2a3c9260e0d4ab600578ed94&width=400&height=225)
A migrant woman carries her child to a Belarusian doctor near the Kuznitsa checkpoint. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7VV2CLDH3ER33LMXMAQLEYZ7G4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1cc54153d4afc4286723798fec14c2d29202155f0dd387b138758f830675ff77&width=400&height=225)
Belarusian doctors help people prepare to enter showering tents close to the logistics centre. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKBJVQ5VLBLZYL2S44YQUAJUY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a93e7acd956a92e0e981e43b693cd71b01c4531f2d8217ad6834d2de4478545&width=400&height=225)
An estimated 15,000 migrants are massed on either side of the border in freezing, inhospitable conditions, with about 12,000 Polish soldiers, border guards and police in place. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCADCMS6JBJELRHWSLT3HDA2PQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab5634d5d967544284fb7b4c2a3494227b5d231fa38157a837f0ffd4da5b09db&width=400&height=225)
Boys leave the kitchen tent near the Bruzgi checkpoint. The EU believes Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has encouraged migrants to travel to the border in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Belarus over human rights abuses. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MX6QPPDWQ2IQY3FE4LJ3J3OPCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d56491728e1eaffc7f71b8677d8321d1f4220e7f5be89cf7a4beae0fb1eb82d&width=400&height=225)
Migrants set up beds in the transport and logistics centre. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QKBPRSLWIP6HT7WT7YIR3SG4PE.jpg?smart=true&auth=284cf230ef2cfc858e203579ea5a5c575826ed6e8114c1b33e8a056fa65af1ec&width=400&height=225)
A man washes his faces at the centre. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DSPGTV2GPK6XRQC7HD7YF4E4NE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f139a9559d43c3b457292d4cb62662003dac5e8a135f0bcf6615f5cc81497b20&width=400&height=225)
Although fewer numbers have been gathering at the border in the past few days, Poland believes the reduction is down to a change of tactics by Belarus, which it says is now moving migrants to the border area in smaller groups. Reuters
Tougher European border controls proposed in migrant crisis
Brussels calls for Schengen area reforms after Covid-19 pandemic and refugee influx
![Jamie Prentis](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F7e8731e9-4925-4121-9565-fee2525fc1c6.png?smart=true&auth=8c028507ec53318d49d5123c5dc965135b9b7aea1a6d3ffd9ccacfb39b6f8f40&width=70&height=70)
Jamie Prentis
14 December, 2021
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