Hundreds of Iraqi migrants stranded in Belarus will be flown home

Iraq will repatriate hundreds of migrants from the country who are stranded in Belarus amid an escalating migration crisis on the EU’s doorstep.

An Iraqi diplomatic delegation in the Belarusian capital of Minsk has so far received requests from more than 240 Iraqis to return, government spokesman Ahmed Al Sahaf told state TV.

At least 571 Iraqis stranded in eight camps on the BelarusPoland border have been registered, he said.

The exact number of Iraqis stranded in Minsk or at the border is not known.

“They are facing harsh weather conditions and suffering from a lack of food and other supplies,” Mr Al Sahaf said.

“The majority of them are elderly, women and children.”

This year, Belarus eased restrictions at its border to allow migrants in.

The move came as the country was embroiled in a row with the EU, which imposed sanctions on it after last year’s disputed presidential elections.

Thousands of migrants, mainly from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, have travelled to Belarus, fleeing conflict and hardship at home and seeking a new life in Europe.

Belarus has denied the EU’s accusation that it is orchestrating movements of migrants in retaliation for the sanctions.

Under pressure from the bloc, Iraq has suspended Minskbound flights since August and more than 500 Iraqis have been repatriated.

But migrants have been taking flights from other countries, including Turkey and Qatar.

On Tuesday, Polish riot police used tear gas and water cannon against migrants who threw rocks and tried to cross the border.

Video footage showed more than a dozen men throwing projectiles near the crossing to the north-eastern Polish town of Kuznica.

An Iraqi diplomatic delegation in Minsk has so far received requests from more than 240 people to return