The images of the thousands of migrants, including many families, massed on the Belarusian border have disappeared.If the precariousness of their situation is today less visible in the eyes of the international community, it has, however, evolved little.After a passage by neighboring Belarus, 1,750 people - from Iraq and Syria for the most part - now earth in the six closed accommodation centers in Poland.
Although sheltered from cold and bad weather, migrants are always exposed to ""inhuman and degrading treatments"", worried Marcin Wiacek, Polish human rights commissioner, in a letter addressed to the courts of the courts ofcountries in charge of detention.Since August 2021, teams from this independent national body have been leading unexpected visits to the six Polish closed centers, managed by the government.And after six months of investigation, the observation is overwhelming: ""overpopulation in the centers"", ""bad living conditions"", ""lack of hygiene"" and ""access to their rights""...The list of shortcomings observed by the body is long.
In addition, according to Marcin Wiacek, ""the medical and psychological care provided in these establishments are far from sufficient and can lead to a deterioration of health"" of exiles, ""already weakened by ill -treatment in their country of origin"""".
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""Serious gaps in terms of both psychological and medical care of foreigners in detention had already been diagnosed before the crisis on the Polish-Biélorusian border.he added.The situation we have faced from last year has worsened considerably "".
Explosions and bars at the windows
The living conditions of the Wedrzyn center, a military base on the German border transformed into a center for foreigners this summer, are particularly worrying.In November and January, rebellions were led by exiles to denounce the situation.According to the Oko Press investigation media, military exercises are still conducted on this ground surrounded by barbed wire despite the presence of migrants, already traumatized by their exile.Every day, his 600 occupants hear explosions, and see the soldiers wander, rifles under their arm.
The rooms can accommodate up to 24 exiles, or 2.2 square meters per person.A figure below international standards, and those of Polish prisons.Bedroom windows, still surmounted by bars, have no curtains.""To protect themselves from the sun and external artificial lighting, people cover them with toilet paper,"" said Marcin Wiacek.
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""It's not a closed camp, it's a prison.We are treated as criminals, not refugees, ""deplores Ahmed, an Yemeni exile interviewed by France Info.""We have panic attacks, nightmares, we can't sleep.We are scared.From the start of our stay, we ask for the help of a psychologist and nothing happens.I'm going to go crazy here, ""says Munzer with Oko Press.
Inappropriate centers for children
In Wedrzyn, migrants are retained for three months while waiting for processing their asylum request.But because of the slowness of the procedure, this duration may be extended by three additional months.""They do not know what will happen to them,"" said deputy Tomasz Ani.mo, who had visited the center in December after a riot.""They do not understand their legal status, do not know Polish law.They don't know how long they will have to stay here and what will happen to them then.This situation is completely intolerable for any human being.""
In the temporary center of Czerwony Bór, northeast of Poland, no common room is reserved for occupants. ""En conséquence, ils doivent passer la majeure partie de la journée dans la cage d'escalier"", signale Marcin Wiacek dans ses conclusions. Il n’y a pas, non plus, ""de salles adaptées aux besoins des enfants"", pourtant nombreux.In Czerwony Bór, as elsewhere, the agents of the Polish Human Rights police station are also concerned about the deterioration of the mental health of several children.Some cases even required hospitalizations.
Pour Marcin Wiacek, ""aucun des centres gardés, ne serait-ce qu'en raison des conditions qui y règnent et du caractère strictement carcéral de ces structures, n'est un lieu approprié pour les enfants, et un séjour là-bas peut avoir un impact définitivement négatif sur leur développement et leur état psychophysique"".
Placements in contradiction with the Constitution
The law of December 12, 2013 on foreigners certainly authorizes the placement of families with children in centers guarded. Mais les articles 30 et 40 garantissent à tous le ""respect de la dignité humaine"" et interdit tout ""traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants"", précise Marcin Wiacek dans sa lettre.Children also have the right to education, stipulated by article 70. Selon le Commissaire aux droits de l'Homme, ""aucun des centres gardés ne garantit aux mineurs la bonne mise en œuvre de leur droit constitutionnel"".
""Le placement dans un centre gardé doit être considéré comme un dernier recours"", préconise-t-il. Des ""alternatives à la détention, notamment aux familles avec enfants et mineurs non accompagnés, ainsi qu'aux adultes ayant subi des tortures"" doivent toujours être proposées.
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Outside the centers, Poland continues to deploy its anti-migrant arsenal. Alors même que depuis le début de l'année, selon Reuters, seuls ""quelques dizaines de migrants"" tentent de traverser chaque jour la frontière avec la Biélorussie.The work of the wall of almost 200 km, intended to prevent their passage, began.Validated by Parliament last November, all the palisades - 5.5 meters high - should be erected by June.According to the border guard, the first 1,000 posts have already been delivered.
