DISINFO: Migrants in Lithuania are kept in concentration camps in unsanitary conditions
SUMMARY
Migrants from the Middle East escaped from the Rudninkai camp in Lithuania. [...]
This is a camp for migrants, where about 500 people are kept in unsanitary conditions. On Tuesday, August 10, 20 migrants fled from the "concentration camp" as it was called.
Against the background of the aggravation in Afghanistan, migrants from the Middle East are fleeing to Europe through Belarus. They are stopped at the Lithuanian border and driven to camps, where people are beaten and otherwise humiliated.
RESPONSE
Disinformation about migration and Lithuania.
While it is true that 7 migrants unlawfully left a migration camp in Lithuania on 8 August 2021, claims that migrants are kept in "concentration camps" or in unsanitary conditions are false.
In July and August 2021, Lithuania has faced unprecedented migration crisis with sharp increase of arrivals of migrants and asylum seekers coming from the Middle East and Africa and entering Lithuania via the border with Belarus.
Lithuania officially linked the influx of irregular migrants to the actions of Belarusian authorities. The minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis noted that “Lukashenko seeks to weaponise migration to weaken our resolve for sanctions”. On her visit to Lithuania Commissioner Ylva Johansson also stressed that the situation at Lithuanian-Belarusian border was an act of agression from the Lukashenka regime.
Lithuania has built temporary settlements for irregular migrants until their asylum applications are processed. Lithuanian authorities with the support of the European Union are working to ensure adequate conditions for the people, especially ahead of the upcoming colder months. Read more here about the EU support.
Lithuanian citizens and businesses also joined efforts to provide the people with warm blankets and clothes. Lithuania has a policy in place to take care of vulnerable / children where also the Lithuanian Red Cross participates.
For background see the investigation of Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT about the migrant smuggling scheme enabled by the Minsk regime.