Hanna Jarzabek

Photographer & Storyteller

www.hannajarzabek.com

The Jungle Porfolio

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Location: Madrid, Spain

Nationality: Polish

Biography: Documentary photographer and freelance photojournalist Hanna Jarzabek (1976, Poland). She finished a Master degree in Political Science and worked on refugee reports for UN agencies such as UNRWA and UNCTA. She developed her passion for... MORE

A volunteer brings clothes and...xtremely hard to reach. Poland

A volunteer brings clothes and food to refugees hiding in the forest. Sometimes volunteers have to go in the middle of the night and get to places that are extremely hard to reach. Poland

The anti-migration fence, with ...land and Belarus. Krynki Poland

The anti-migration fence, with a height of 5.5 meters and a length of 183 kilometers, recently built by the Polish government on the border between Poland and Belarus. Krynki Poland

One of the photographic traps p...gratory flows of people. Poland

One of the photographic traps placed by the Polish Border Guards in the Bialowieza Forest to monitor the migratory flows of people. Poland

A group of refugees from Eritre...g numbers as high as 17. Poland

A group of refugees from Eritrea with food provided by volunteers. On many occasions, due to security concerns, volunteer interventions in the forest are brief. The refugees’ condition is evaluated and if there are no serious health problems, volunteers try to spend as little time as possible with refugees to avoid exposing them to the risk of being captured by the border guard. The Polish government has changed the immigration law to "legalize" push-backs at this border. Officially, when border guards catch a migrant on Polish soil who does not express willingness to apply for asylum, they “escort” them back to the border. In reality, migrants rarely have the opportunity to apply for asylum, and sometimes these applications are simply ignored. The Border Guard takes them to the Belarusian border and forces them to cross to the other side. Some of the refugees have claimed to have suffered several of these push-backs, reaching numbers as high as 17. Poland

Mohammad, a 30-year-old refugee...ed down the Polish side. Poland

Mohammad, a 30-year-old refugee from Yemen, shows the injuries to his eyes caused by beatings by the Belarusian police. Mohammad arrived in Minsk together with his two friends, Khalid and Salim, both 23 years old. They had spent two months in the forest and had been returned to the Belarusian side twice by Polish border guards. The first time, Polish border guards smashed their phones and fired tear gas into their eyes, leaving Khalid without visibility for several hours. On this last occasion, the refugees used a ladder to jump over the fence and slipped down the Polish side. Poland

An injection a rescuer had to p...ses such as miscarriage. Poland

An injection a rescuer had to proportionate to woman refugee from Iran during the intervention. Medical professionals providing aid in the forest face difficult conditions, often working in the dark and without the proper equipment to make an accurate diagnosis. They adapt their treatment to forest conditions, such as giving intravenous infusions at night or providing urgent medical attention in severe cases such as miscarriage. Poland

Trench foot, a fungal infection...nt threat during winter. Poland

Trench foot, a fungal infection that affects the feet, is one of the most common health problems among refugees attempting to cross the Białowieża Forest. It arises when the feet are exposed to low temperatures and high humidity for long periods of time. Refugees who spend extended periods in the forest often experience health problems due to the harsh conditions they face. The lack of potable water forces them to drink from polluted sources, such as swamps, which causes severe digestive problems and diarrhea. Trench foot is also common among migrants who cross swamps and rivers without being able to change clothes or wash. In summer, dehydration is common, while hypothermia is a constant threat during winter. Poland

For five months, A. (32 years o... on the Belarusian side. Poland

For five months, A. (32 years old, Yemen, oncologist) and M. (50 years old, Syria) braved the forest. They drank swamp water that they filter through a scarf. They have been detained by Border Guards seven times and each time pushed-back to the forest on the Belarusian side. Poland

Firefighters and Border Guard r...commended by the doctor. Poland

Firefighters and Border Guard remove Y.K., a Syrian refugee with second-degree hypothermia. He was taken to the Border Guard post, rather than to the hospital as recommended by the doctor. Poland

A refugee from Senegal shows th...fence across the border. Poland

A refugee from Senegal shows the injuries caused by concertina blades after climbing the fence across the border. Poland

Mohammad, a 30-year-old refugee... tear gas into his eyes. Poland

Mohammad, a 30-year-old refugee from Yemen. He spent approximately two months in the forest. He was detained and returned twice by the Polish Border Guard, who in addition to breaking his phone, sprayed tear gas into his eyes. Poland

Ali (24 years old, Syria) with...forest on the Belarusian side.

Ali (24 years old, Syria) with food and clothing provided by volunteers; Bialowieza Forest, Podlasie/Poland, November 1, 2022  

Ali has been detained by Border Guards seven times and each time pushed-back to the forest on the Belarusian side.

A group of Syrian refugees, pro... clothing by volunteers. Poland

A group of Syrian refugees, provided with food and clothing by volunteers. Poland

The anti-migration fence, with...nd and Belarus. Klakowo Poland

The anti-migration fence, with a height of 5.5 meters and a length of 183 kilometers, recently built by the Polish government on the border between Poland and Belarus. Klakowo Poland

A Sudanese passport found in the Bialowieza Forest. Poland

Infusion for intravenous admini...ntails for the refugees. Poland

Infusion for intravenous administration, sometimes necessary to administer in the forest. In general, when an ambulance is called, the Border Guards arrive instead, with the risks that this entails for the refugees. Poland

Ola. G - a rescuer who helps re...ns such as miscarriages. Poland

Ola. G - a rescuer who helps refugees in the forest in very difficult conditions, often in the dark of night and without light, even in extreme situations such as miscarriages. Poland

Y.K (25 years old, engineer), a...ion of several deputies. Poland

Y.K (25 years old, engineer), a Syrian refugee in a state of second-degree hypothermia, awaits the arrival of the ambulance. Y.K. he had been hiding in the strict reserve of the Bialowieza Forest for several days, a place that was difficult to access. According to the doctor who accompanied the volunteers, he was in a critical condition. He could not move on his own, and for two hours the volunteers provided care and first aid, changing his clothes and trying to insulate him from the cold and snow. However, his condition did not improve, so the volunteers decided to call an ambulance despite the risk of being detained by border guards. After almost 4 hours of waiting at a temperature of 11ºC below zero, the Firefighters and the Border Guard arrived without any doctor on board. Despite the doctor’s recommendation, Y.K. was not transferred to the hospital but to the Border Guard post in Bialowieza. The border guards refused to allow the doctor to accompany them while they transported Y.K to their post. In these cases, there is a risk that once the migrant's state of health improves, the border guards will expel him into the forest on the Belarusian side, which could lead to a relapse into hypothermia and even death. To ensure that this would not happen and to obtain information about the refugee's situation, the volunteers had to request the intervention of several deputies. Poland

Two volunteers, one of them a d...s 11 degrees below zero. Poland

Two volunteers, one of them a doctor, provide assistance to Y.K, a Syrian refugee in a state of second-degree hypothermia. At that time, the temperature was 11 degrees below zero. Poland

Two volunteers from Grupa Grani...d degree of hypothermia. Poland

Two volunteers from Grupa Granica, change the cloths of Y.K. (25 years old, Syrian refugee, an engineer) find in the forest in the second degree of hypothermia. Poland

G., a local inhabitant who used...me things". -G. Poland

G., a local inhabitant who used to help refugees in the forest with the boots. Refugees often need proper, dry footwear, as many come unprepared to cross this forest.   For security reasons, in most cases I cannot disclose the exact location where the photograph was taken. Therefore, in the following “Portraits of Hands” series featuring locals who have helped or continue to help refugees in the forest, I only indicate the region – Podlasie. "It's hard not to think about all the things we've seen in the forest, especially knowing that people are still hiding there now. One of the moments when I felt really angry was when the war in Ukraine started. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw on TV that the Border Guards were carrying Ukrainian children in their arms and helping women to cross the border. I have never seen something like that here, quite the opposite! And here we also have had many women and children. I felt very angry because I realized that there are various categories of people and not everyone has the right to the same things". -G. Poland

Przemek (name changed), a local...d a certain normal life. Poland

Przemek (name changed), a local inhabitant who helped the refugees, with objects that the latter left in the forest. When the crisis at the border started, Przemek started going to the forest together with some friends to provide help. As he says, they quickly realized that calling an ambulance was a mistake and that they should do everything possible to help people with their own means. After few months he decided to withdraw from active help in the forest. According to what he says, this whole situation began to take a toll on him and he had to go to the psychologist. Now he says that, if it’s necessary and someone knocked on his door, he would go back to the forest to help, but for now he has to recover his strength and a certain normal life. Poland

A. a volunteer who helps refuge...tinue helping until now. Poland

A. a volunteer who helps refugees, with objects that she usually takes to the forest (thermos and thermal survival blanket). A. is an anthropologist and lives outside of Podlasie region. She had never been particularly interested in the issue of migration before. When the crisis started in Podlasie, it was her daughter (then 19 years old) who got involved first, starting with preparing food and then going into the forest to help. A. used to listen to the stories her daughter told her and finally decided to enroll as a volunteer too. At first she went one week a month, but now she has decided to stay for six months. The first time she went to the forest to help a group of migrants, she met a boy of a similar age to her son and that's what has motivated her to continue helping until now. Poland

Tomek (around 50 years old, nam...dated." - Tomek Poland

Tomek (around 50 years old, name changed), a local inhabitant who helps refugees, with a backpack he uses when going to the forest. "I've seen soaked, cold children who just cried. I saw a woman who was shivering from the cold and crying. It was early November last year. It was really cold and there was a group that crossed the river. There were women and children there and the woman was just sobbing. It was obvious that she was suffering, that she was cold. And you remember things like that. Or situations where you can see how these people are hounded, for example, when I come to them and they grab my legs, beg me not to call the police. It's very sad that these people are just so intimidated." - Tomek Poland

One of the warehouse set up by ...oth Polish and foreign). Poland

One of the warehouse set up by volunteers with the support of civil society and various associations (both Polish and foreign). Poland

A volunteer brings food to refu...n the Bialowieza Forest. Poland

A volunteer brings food to refugees hiding in the Bialowieza Forest. Poland

In the Bialowieza Forest, there...rescue. Some drowned.

In the Bialowieza Forest, there are several swamps, and some of them are extremely dangerous. On several occasions refugees have become trapped and have required rescue. Some drowned.

Tomb of Halikari Dakher, a Kurd...on of institutional assistance.

Tomb of Halikari Dakher, a Kurdish baby. Polish Muslim cemetery, Bohoniki, Podlasie/Poland, October 27, 2022
 
Halikari Dakher's mother (Avin, a Kurdish refugee) was in an advanced stage of pregnancy (between 24 and 26 weeks). She was traveling with her husband and 5 children. After spending a week in the Bialowieza Forest, her condition drastically worsened to the point of third degree hypothermia. Avin lost her son Halikari in the hospital and soon after she too died. The father, with his 5 children, after passing through the post of Border Guards, was placed in the Dialog Foundation in Bialystok, the latter having agreement on the provision of institutional assistance.

The objects left by the refugees in the Bialowieza Forest.

Dorota, local inhabitant, stand...demolishing it. Tolcze, Poland.

Dorota, local inhabitant, stands in front of her father-in-law’s house. The wall has been constructed a few meters from the house, and the family has had to fight to prevent the authorities from demolishing it. Tolcze, Poland.

The house of Dorota’s...tion wall behind. Tolcze Poland

The house of Dorota’s father-in-law with the anti-migration wall behind. Tolcze Poland

One of the villages close to Bialowieza Forest Poland

One of the villages in Podlasie. Poland

Kasia P. a local resident and v...they leave the hospital. Poland

Kasia P. a local resident and volunteer at one of the hospitals in Podlasie.   Kasia's job is to make sure that hospitalized refugees, who are always watched by Border Guards during their hospital stay, receive all the necessary help and information. She often has to make sure that the person has access to a translator so that the Border Guards do not make him sign "voluntary return" papers without his knowledge. Another problem is access to the telephone, often denied by the Border Guards. Also, Kasia explains and asks the refugees if they want to sign a power of attorney in her name so that she can follow their cases and request information. Without this power, the Border Guards refuse to provide any type of information about the refugees; always claiming the protection of the latter's personal data. According to Kasia and several other volunteers, even if they have the legal power, Border Guards often refuse to give them the information, so it is difficult to know what happens to the person once they leave the hospital. Poland

Kasia P. a local resident and v...ften due to the wall.

Kasia P. a local resident and volunteer at one of the hospitals in Podlasie, shows in her phone photos of injuries refugees suffer most often due to the wall.

A. (25 years old, Yemen, wanted...where lives her husband. Poland

A. (25 years old, Yemen, wanted to remain anonymous), hospitalized after jumping over the fence and breaking her leg. A. tried to cross the border with her brother and a friend. She slipped off the fence and broke her leg. Her brother tried to carry her on his back, but couldn't do it for a long time. They were detained by the Border Guards in the forest, A. was taken to hospital, while her brother and friend were probably returned pushed back to the Belarusian side. In the hospital, A. had to undergo a complicated operation due to the state of her leg. She even needed a transfusion and, according to doctors, she will never regain full use of her leg. She wanted to get to Norway, where lives her husband. Poland

A Border Guards watch refugees ...ured trying to cross the fence.

A Border Guards watch refugees hospitalized after being injured trying to cross the fence.

A local volunteer, shows on her...n origin was already mentioned.

A local volunteer, shows on her phone the image of the video in which a refugee was left hanging upside down on the fence, with one leg caught in the concertina above. Podlasie/Poland, October 26, 2022

This video went viral on the Internet in October 2022 and was probably recorded by Border Guards or a soldier of the Territorial Defense Formation. In the video, a migrant is seen hanging upside down while the uniformed people present look on, making jokes and derogatory comments. The video was uploaded online under the caption "Bialowieza's Bat" and sparked strong criticism across Poland. Public television showed the video without sound, explaining that "The Border Guards know how to act forcefully but with humanity and they provided medical attention to the migrant." In subsequent statements, the Border Guards assured that it was not clear who the uniformed people in the video were, but that the migrant of Egyptian origin received help. In another statement, a migrant of African origin was already mentioned.

Concertina that, at the beginni... of the anti-immigration fence.

Concertina that, at the beginning of the crisis, served as a separation between Poland and Belarus before the fence was built; now the same type of concertina is placed on top of the anti-immigration fence.

In the Bialowieza Forest, there...ed rescue. Some drowned. Poland

In the Bialowieza Forest, there are several swamps, and some of them are extremely dangerous. On several occasions refugees have become trapped and have required rescue. Some drowned. Poland