Turkey blocks citizens from Syria, Yemen and Iraq from flying to Belarus

The Turkish authorities have banned all citizens of Iraq, Syria and Yemen from flying from Turkey to Belarus with an immediate effect, until further notice, to ease the growing migrant crisis at the Poland-Belarus border.

File photo of Turkish Airlines flights, by Onur Kurt via Unsplash

Turkey's Civil Aviation authority said the step has been taken as a number of "illegal migrants" are attempting to cross from Belarus into the European Union.

Turkey has suspended ticket sales to Iraqi, Syrian and Yemeni citizens wanting to travel to Belarus after the European Union (EU) reportedly pressured on international carriers, such as Turkish Airlines, to stop bringing people from the Middle East to the Belarusian capital, Minsk.

Aid, food delivered to refugee camp on Belarus border with Poland: Belarus state media

Belarus state media reported that more than 10 tons of humanitarian aid and food had been delivered on Friday to a refugee camp on the Belarus border with Poland where thousands of migrants have been stranded.

According to Belarus state media BelTA, Belarusian Red Cross, several organizations and enterprises, and political associations supplied the assistance to the migrants struggling at the border.

Meanwhile, Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei on Friday said the Belarusian side is doing everything possible to reduce the flow of migrants at the border with the EU nation.

Iraq temporarily suspends Belarus' consular license

Iraq's foreign ministry on Friday announced it has temporarily suspended Belarus' consular license and is halting all direct flights to the country.

The Iraqi foreign ministry's spokesperson told CNN that the actions were being taken to prevent Iraqi migrants from getting visas to or landing in Belarus amid the escalating migrant crisis.

NATO says it remains vigilant over risk of escalation by Belarus in the border with EU nations

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Friday said it was monitoring for any escalation in the situation on its members' borders with Belarus, after Belarusian and Russian paratroopers held joint drills near the border with Poland.

Secretary general of the military alliance Jens Stoltenberg condemned Belarus for its actions targeting member countries Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, and called on it to respect human rights.