U.N. urges Belarus, Poland to address refugees' 'dire conditions'

FILE PHOTO: Migrant children gather near the fence on the Poland/Belarus border near Kuznica, Poland, in this video-grab released by the Polish Interior Ministry, November 11, 2021. MON/Handout via REUTERS

GENEVA (Reuters) - Belarus and Poland are pushing refugees back and forth across their border and leaving them with little if any food, clean water or shelter, the U.N. Human Rights office said on Tuesday, urging both countries to address "this appalling situation".

Refugees and migrants interviewed by a U.N. human rights team on a Nov. 29 to Dec. 3 trip to Poland said they had suffered violence or threats in Belarus and been left hungry and cold, a spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights office said.