Thousands of migrants are stuck at the Poland-Belarus border in dire conditions. Meanwhile, Afghan, Syrian, Yemeni and Iraqi citizens have been barred from boarding flights from Dubai to Minsk.

The government of Iraq said it will begin arranging the first repatriation flight for citizens wishing to leave Belarus.

The European Union on Monday agreed to widen sanctions on Belarus as a migration crisis deepens along its border with Poland.

The sanctions will target a number of individuals and entities for “facilitation illegal border crossings into the EU”, - Josep Borrell, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, said.