Migrants on the Belarus-Poland border have caused logistic problems for Russian food producers, who are suffering losses and may have to temporarily cease production if the situation worsens.

Belarus has closed several border crossings with Poland for cargo transport as the European Union accuses Minsk of pushing migrants, mostly from the Middle East, to illegally cross their borders.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-heads-to-cyprus-aiming-to-highlight-plight-of-migrants-433650">Pope Francis heads to Cyprus, aiming to highlight plight of migrants</a>

There are long queues of trucks at the four functioning Poland-Belarus border crossings out of the total six. According to Belarus' border service, Lithuania's six crossings are open.

Food producers use the trucks to transport goods and raw materials to Belarus and Russia.

There are typically 400-600 trucks at the crossings into Belarus from Poland at any given time, which causes normal waiting times of 12-24 hours to average 2-4 days.

Every day spent waiting costs 500 euros, which has pushed up transportation costs. An alternative crossing route costs between 300 and 400 euros, sources said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-imposes-fresh-sanctions-on-belarus-433659">EU imposes fresh sanctions on Belarus</a>

Another source on the market said that Russian importers have not yet suffered large losses, as last week's losses had been getting worse, but this week they are slightly better.

"If the situation gets worse, it threatens to break the supply chain and factories will grind to a standstill," the source said.

Traffic congestion in the opposite direction has already worsened.

On November 18, a group of companies including Mars, Pepsi, Danone, Nestle, CocaCola, Metro, and TetraPak appealed to the Russian government to intervene.

Watch |&nbsp;Belarus says EU refused to discuss fate of 2,000 migrants

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/belarus-says-eu-refused-to-discuss-fate-of-2000-migrants-431419/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The continuation of the current situation could have a significant impact on supply chains and the availability of goods for the public, including essential goods, especially given the increased cargo volumes and heightened demand in the run-up to the New Year holidays," the group, the Foreign Investment Advisory Council, wrote.

According to the letter, about 10&nbsp;of all Russian imports pass through Belarus and Poland.

The office of Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov, to whom the letter was addressed, said it would investigate the situation. The Ministry of Transport declined to comment.

Data from the Belarusian border service shows similar delays on the Belarusian side of the border with the European Union. According to the data, 400 to 700 vehicles wait at the border at any given time.

(With inputs from agencies)

Migrants on the Belarus-Poland border have caused logistic problems for Russian food producers, who are suffering losses and may have to temporarily cease production if the situation worsens.

Migrants on the Belarus-Poland border have caused logistic problems for Russian food producers, who are suffering losses and may have to temporarily cease production if the situation worsens. Belarus has closed several border crossings with Poland for cargo transport as the European Union accuses Minsk of pushing migrants, mostly from the Middle East, to illegally cross their borders. Also read | Pope Francis heads to Cyprus, aiming to highlight plight of migrants There are long queues of trucks at the four functioning Poland-Belarus border crossings out of the total six. According to Belarus' border service, Lithuania's six crossings are open. Food producers use the trucks to transport goods and raw materials to Belarus and Russia. There are typically 400-600 trucks at the crossings into Belarus from Poland at any given time, which causes normal waiting times of 12-24 hours to average 2-4 days. Every day spent waiting costs 500 euros, which has pushed up transportation costs. An alternative crossing route costs between 300 and 400 euros, sources said. Also read | EU imposes fresh sanctions on Belarus Another source on the market said that Russian importers have not yet suffered large losses, as last week's losses had been getting worse, but this week they are slightly better. "If the situation gets worse, it threatens to break the supply chain and factories will grind to a standstill," the source said. Traffic congestion in the opposite direction has already worsened. On November 18, a group of companies including Mars, Pepsi, Danone, Nestle, CocaCola, Metro, and TetraPak appealed to the Russian government to intervene. Watch | Belarus says EU refused to discuss fate of 2,000 migrants "The continuation of the current situation could have a significant impact on supply chains and the availability of goods for the public, including essential goods, especially given the increased cargo volumes and heightened demand in the run-up to the New Year holidays," the group, the Foreign Investment Advisory Council, wrote. According to the letter, about 10 of all Russian imports pass through Belarus and Poland. The office of Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov, to whom the letter was addressed, said it would investigate the situation. The Ministry of Transport declined to comment. Data from the Belarusian border service shows similar delays on the Belarusian side of the border with the European Union. According to the data, 400 to 700 vehicles wait at the border at any given time. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus migrant crisis driving up transportation costs, disrupting goods supplies to Russia

In a statement on Monday, Poland's interior ministry said the construction of a wall along its border with Belarus will begin in December and that it will be completed in the first half of next year.

"The undertaking which we must carry out is absolutely strategic and priority investment for the security of the nation and its citizens," Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-backs-lukashenko-as-migrant-crisis-escalates-at-belarus-poland-border-429584">Russia backs Lukashenko as migrant crisis escalates at Belarus-Poland border</a>

According to the ministry, the contracts will be signed by December 15, and construction of the border wall itself will begin later that month, with builders working 24 hours a day in three shifts.

It is estimated that the wall will cost 353 million euros ($407 million) and that it will extend 180 kilometres (112 miles), around half the length of the Poland-Belarus border.

The wall was approved by Parliament last month.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/using-desperate-migrants-as-pawns-lukashenko-faces-sanctions-threat-pitches-for-russian-missiles-429281">'Using desperate migrants as pawns': Lukashenko faces sanctions threat, pitches for Russian missiles</a>

Since the summer, thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East have crossed or attempted to cross the Poland-Belarus border.

In response to the migrant influx, thousands of soldiers have been deployed to the border and a state of emergency has been declared, as well as a razor-wire fence hastily constructed by Poland.

Watch |&nbsp;Poland: Over 33,000 illegal attempts to cross the border

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/poland-over-33000-illegal-attempts-to-cross-the-border-429676/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Many non-governmental organisations (NGO's) have warned of increasingly dangerous conditions. Poland's hardline stance on the crisis has attracted sharp criticism, with guards at the border pushing migrants and refugees away.&nbsp;

In a statement on Monday, Poland's interior ministry said the construction of a wall along its border with Belarus will begin in December and that it will be completed in the first half of next year.

In a statement on Monday, Poland's interior ministry said the construction of a wall along its border with Belarus will begin in December and that it will be completed in the first half of next year. "The undertaking which we must carry out is absolutely strategic and priority investment for the security of the nation and its citizens," Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said. Also read | Russia backs Lukashenko as migrant crisis escalates at Belarus-Poland border According to the ministry, the contracts will be signed by December 15, and construction of the border wall itself will begin later that month, with builders working 24 hours a day in three shifts. It is estimated that the wall will cost 353 million euros ($407 million) and that it will extend 180 kilometres (112 miles), around half the length of the Poland-Belarus border. The wall was approved by Parliament last month. Also read | 'Using desperate migrants as pawns': Lukashenko faces sanctions threat, pitches for Russian missiles Since the summer, thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East have crossed or attempted to cross the Poland-Belarus border. In response to the migrant influx, thousands of soldiers have been deployed to the border and a state of emergency has been declared, as well as a razor-wire fence hastily constructed by Poland. Watch | Poland: Over 33,000 illegal attempts to cross the border Many non-governmental organisations (NGO's) have warned of increasingly dangerous conditions. Poland's hardline stance on the crisis has attracted sharp criticism, with guards at the border pushing migrants and refugees away.

Poland to build a wall, as migrant crisis escalates at Belarus-Poland border

The situation at the Poland-Belarus border continues to escalate. Major world powers have shifted the blame and sought to shake responsibility as thousand of migrants from West Asia are manhandled by troops stationed at either side.

Vladimir Putin says Russia 'has nothing to do with it'