HUNDREDS OF AFRICANS have spent up to three freezing days and nights on the Poland-Ukraine border prevented from leaving the warzone, according to multiple sources.
Africans have reported being whipped by troops near the Polish border, and mobile phone footage shows soldiers pointing automatic weapons at the men and women attempting to flee the conflict following the Russian invasion.
Videos show a van driving into a crowd of Africans who protest that they are students from Ukraine, and troops in Ukraine who appear to be blocking Africans from boarding rescue trains.
Winston Benibo, who is at the Shehyni border crossing, said: “The current situation for the students at the border is they are being refused exit by the Ukrainian military. They have used force to keep over 500 students from different countries, not just Nigeria, other countries, India and so on and so forth, inside Ukraine.”
In a voice message to lawyer Brenda Efurhievwe, Benibo added: “We’ve been abused, we’ve been told to sit down on the floor. We have been whipped, we have been beaten. They are trying to drive people back by trying to hit people with cars. It is actually terrible right now at the checkpoint.
“And it is extremely cold. They are assisting Ukrainians to cross the border as fast as possible, and it’s the exact opposite for us.”
There are reports of Nigerians also being turned back at the Korczowa border crossing.
Efurhievwe tweeted she had been getting reports that border guards at Poland were saying they will not admit any African students, and they were being physically thrown off trains leaving Ukraine.
Damilare Arah tweeted a video of African men at a Ukrainian train station, saying that the authorities had left them after rescuing their women and children.
A WhatsApp message from a woman stuck at a train station in Lyiv, western Ukraine, all day yesterday said that black people had been “kicked off” three trains.
Ghanaians and Kenyans were said to be amongst those attempting to flee the war, along with some of the 6,000 black Ukrainians.
The racial segregation of refugees at Ukraine terminals and the Polish border was discussed in several Twitter telegrams, as fears grow that many Africans are being left stranded in a warzone.
Rawlings Onyi, welfare officer for Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Poland, told The Voice: “A law has been passed to allow people to leave so probably the border guards are adding their own personal behaviours and attitudes towards [black people].”
There are suggestions that border authorities were denying Nigerians entry to Poland unless they had proof that the government of Nigeria had given authorisation to leave Ukraine. However, it is unclear whether this degree of permission to travel was being applied to white people fleeing the conflict.
Currently, as the Russian army makes incursions into Ukraine, the official position of Poland is that people do not need a visa to enter from that country, however multiple accounts indicate that the authorities are imposing restrictions on black people.
Efurhievwe, who was born in Poland, told The Voice: “There’s plenty of evidence that there is racial discrimination happening on the border.” She said she was “deeply ashamed” of her country.
“What the border guards are doing is illegal. Every person fleeing the war zone in Ukraine has a right to enter Poland, using nothing but your passport.
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25 Comments
This is sickening. Even during a war time situation, the people of Poland and Ukraine, still have time to be racist. Well some of them. What’s even more disheartening, you have people from these same East European people were complaining about discrimination in the UK after Brexit. Their hypocrisy is unreal.
I’m not at all surprised by these racist countries. They deserve the war and beatings they are about to give. Open wide and take a shot of your own meds one.
The Europeans are fighting amongst themselves and Africans are complaining about denying refugee application in Europe.. Essentially leaving one racist place for anothe. The lesson we should have learned over the past two years is this. Black Lives dont matter and never will to them.
I felt bad for them until I saw this and I don’t want my American dollars going towards helping them. I don’t want my BLACK American nephew who is in the US Military assistanting them either.
As an African American citizen,I am so upset and concerned for all the people in the Ukraine. Publicly, what the Polish and Ukrainian guards are doing to the African people living there, is illegal.They have just as much a right to leave and find safety as anyone else who is fleeing the country. l will be praying that the African people will be able to flee:Praying Lord Please change the heart of Man and make a way.In Jesus name, Amen.
So what can we do about it? Can we send this to our black congress people to see if they can help? Our taxes are paying for weapons for the Ukraine and many of our troops are at the border of Poland and Russia. Stop complaining and contact your congress person.
Nothing new here. The former east European countries have always been racist to Africans and as seen even during a war racism is rife. This includes Russia as well!
Is it because any men 18 years old to 60 are requested to stay and fight? Even if you are a student it still may be your obligation to fight for the freedom of a country to attended school in. Please let me know if that was the case.
oh the excuses, that is for Ukrainian citizens, not students and nationals of other countries, but good try! We have not yet heard of the british family separated from the father because its women and children first and lets not forget these restrictions include black women and children. Always ready for an excuse. the bombs dropped on Iraq during shock and awe was 100 times worse and the media and white folk were not concerned over human life they were singing “America F@#k yeh!! “
I had a lot of sympathy for the Ukrainian people, but seeing how they are treating Black People is and absolute disgrace, the same behaviour they are accusing the Russians of! is the no different as what they are inflicting upon Black & Indian people. Lets be clear they say only women and children are being allowed out, well women and children come in all colours not just White. Someone even said that students are not in Danger. When a bomb is fired, does it know the avoid a person because they are a student. Then you have governments worldwide promising to impose sanctions against to Russians in support of Ukraine, I think they need to look very close as to the behaviour of Ukraine police and army, as this is not the behaviour that is expected in a multicultural society. Lets see if this news stays in the forefront or it is just tucked away and labelled as Woke, and stay in denial That again Black Lives to some does not matter, but to many Blacks Our lives do Matter
Ok so first of all. All these international students are young so more likely to survive a couple of days on the borders rather than woman with small kids.
Second no Russians are going to attack or bomb place full of Internationals students cause that would spark 3WW.
Last but not least! Ukraine has stopped all man to pass the borders from age 18-60 so all these ‘white’ people were in fact woman, kids and elderly people! On the top of it there is a thousands of economic immigrants that are in no danger and have been already trying to pass the polish borders since weeks or months. I just feel like these misunderstanding can really hurt people that are putting their life’s on risk so that we all can live in free Europe.
Again so sorry for anyone affected and I hope that they will reach their destination asap.
BS, those rules apply to Ukrainian nationals an not foreign students, the black woman nd children are also not allowed to board and have been seen in the walking convoys. Go back to supporting neo Nazi bandera. we all know Ukraine was overthrown in 2014 by Nazis and have been killing Russian speaking ukranians for last 8 years.
I hold no sympathy or empathy for the Ukrainians, as their barbarous behaviour towards blacks is no different from the Russian tyrant that has got them on the the run. It remains to be seen if black government will be the voice for our people caught up in a war that was not created by them.
The sad part in all of this is that it is not an isolated case to say…..Ok I get it, one or two bad apples and we can forgive them; no it was numerous locations; numerous countries Poland; Romania; and Ukraine; you can’t ask the World to keep you in their prayers and turn around and discriminate against Black students who trying to escape; this is unacceptable under these conditions; if you doing and feeling about us this way…what were you doing under normal situations? Sad and disappointing on every level!
This is so sad and disheartening.These are students who are studying courses like medicine and engineering.They are intelligent young resourceful people who have paid fees and been abandoned by their universities and government.They have no family support with them and are isolated and caught up in a war that has nothing to do with them.They are like other young people their age and enjoy the things that people their age like playing video games,etc .For them to pay school fees,accomadation rent etc means that there families have made sacrifices you enable them study abroad .Now these young people are forced to sleep in the open freezing snow,they havd no food and money,no family nothing..It is not their war.they are international students who have always paid there way.Imagine it was your son or daughter in this situation,isolated and caught up in this conflict.
This is ridiculous…… Ukraine should stop this racism and focus on how to end this catastrophic
Not suprised what did you expect. Putin was right about the neo nazis in the Ukrainian army. Goggle Azov battalion which was formally incorporated in the Ukraine national guard in 2014. Even Uncle Sam has described Azov’s party National Corps as a hate group.
And Svoboda NEo Nazis, make up most of the Police and Military. They also celebrate Stepan Banderas birthday every year with a parade through Kyiv. HE is a convicted War criminal responsible for over 100000 deaths in concentration camps, they are trying to re-write his history but he was convicted at the nurembourg trials.
So where are the African military planes, to evacuate these poor people.
UK should flight them to safe refuge.
Disgusting
They need to get the black students out or you may find the Ukranians start using them as human shields as the colour of their skin means black lives don’t matter as usual. When black footballers play in that country they are given the nazi salute and bananas thrown – good luck to Russia and Ukrain you all deserve each other, keep that war there because my son for one won’t be fighting for none of you -i’ll be sending him back to Yard to keep him safe with my dad!
This is very sad. I understand that everyone fleeing Ukraine is allowed to cross the borders without a visa. I guess this memo didn’t get across to some of the officials on the ground. I advise the students who got stuck at the border to contact their respective embassies in Poland and get support from them. It looks like unfortunate miscommunication that needs to be clarified but in the meantime, stay strong and seek help from your embassies. Your governments should intervene as well as this is really unfair on you. I’m from Poland and most people I know have been working hard to help the refugees in the last days as well as donating to humanitarian charities. We stand by you!
As a Black American, living in a racist society here in these United States of America, I have learned to look at things both objectively and subjectively. Objectively, without the influence of biasness and prejudice, I close my ears to the narrative of what is being said, and written, and view the videos which my eyes can witness and objectively consider. When I do this, I see predominantly Black males being detained at the border crossing, with very few women, and children in the view of the captured images. If this image is correct, than objectively I have to ask myself if this is not an adherence to the original decree by the Ukrainian government that “All” males between the ages of 18 and 60 would not be allowed to leave Ukraine, but sent back to defend the country of Ukraine. If this is indeed the case, then “Objectively”, I am left to conclude that the prohibition and restriction for these males to depart is “Just”. Especially, if their women and children are allowed safe passage and admittance into the receiving country or nation. I can only assume this is taking place as a result of the video presentations provided above, that seem to bare witness to this fact, i.e., limited female detainees and heavy concentration of males within the 18 – 60 age group. “Subjectively”, I honestly believe that the price of Freedom, has never been “FREE”. If anyone chooses, and agrees to enjoy the freedom and liberty to go to a foreign country to receive an opportunity not available to them in their own country, then they must be willing to pay the “Price” for these chosen “Liberties”. The price of Freedom has never been “FREE”. It costs, and sometimes the costs can be severe,…. but it has never been “FREE”. Sometimes, you have to fight for it,… and sometimes, you have to “Die” for it. I know, because here, in these United States of America, my people have fought and died for over 400 years, for the “Freedoms” which most take for granted and still deny us today. But we still pay the price, and still remain willing to Fight. “Subjectively”, I honestly feel, that those African and non-Ukrainian males, like their Ukrainian counterparts, need to kiss their wives and children good-bye, wish them well, Thank God for their safe passage, and turn around, take up arms, and pay the “PRICE” for their chosen “Freedom”. This is the way…. and the never changing “PRICE” of “Freedom”.
I’m willing to receive 2 black refugies at my place in Berlin. They deserve same conditions as refugies. We are all the same and we all have the same right!!!!
These eastern Europeans are some of the most racist people like racist here in America! And everywhere else in the world! These students should have been aware of that when traveling to these countries. Their home countries should be prepared to come to their rescue! So no prayers on behalf of racist, except they be condemned to *#@ hell if they continue their racism!
In the name of Jesus what manor of injustice is this those of you who have been voted in office of any branch of government please speak up now or agree with this injustice.