In forests on Poland-Belarus border, migrants fight for survival

Migrant eats food provided by Ocalenie foundation after he crossed Belarusian-Polish border in the woods near Sokolka, Poland October 11, 2021. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

NEAR SOKOLKA, Poland (Reuters) - Mohammed, a 26-year-old Yemeni migrant, flew to Belarus from Malaysia in August hoping to make it to Poland and on to western Europe.

He spent two weeks in a forest near the Polish border in October, where he says he was forced across the border 11 times by Polish or Belarussian guards, had most of his belongings stolen and was cold, thirsty and hungry with only leaves to eat.