In 2021, political tensions between Lithuania and Belarus flared, precipitating a crisis at the borders during which more than 4 000 migrants largely from the Middle East and South Asia were stranded facing inadequate food, water, clothing, or shelter to cope with the difficult conditions and harsh weather. The politically motivated standoff between the governments of Belarus and Lithuania, combined with unfavourable views towards migrants common in both countries created a highly challenging and politically charged environment in which migrants faced significant risks. As the Lithuanian Red Cross had operated a migration program since 1997 and had agreements with various institutions, it was prepared to take action and respond to the needs of migrants. When the crisis began in June 2021, the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania initially declined the support of the Lithuanian Red Cross. Therefore, during this month, the Lithuanian Red Cross invited other national organisations (including Food Bank, the Order of Malta, and Caritas Lithuania) to join efforts and to establish an Operations Centre together to respond to the humanitarian needs of the people who had entered Lithuania. Several months later in August, the Red Cross began cooperating with different ministries on the issue of the large number of people in the country, as the government recognised the Red Cross as a significant stakeholder leading the humanitarian response to the migrants. As part of its response to the situation, the Lithuanian Red Cross provided humanitarian assistance in the form of non-food items, medicine, and food, as well as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Through the support of UNHCR, the Lithuanian Red Cross also provided monitoring and legal assistance. The Red Cross had mobile teams who were going onto sites where migrants were present and identifying protection issues. Each mobile team contained at least one psychologist who went to centres to provide psychological assistance. The Lithuanian Red Cross sought to collect data on the sex and age of migrants, and to communicate that certain groups such as children and women were presenting with vulnerabilities. The Lithuanian Red Cross also developed thematic reports documenting issues around access to healthcare, access to information, and the situation of women, minors, and LGBTQI+ individuals. These report findings were shared and discussed with institutions, and in some situations, this helped to move vulnerable people (such as LGBTQI+ individuals) into different, safe accommodation. However, not all State stakeholders had a protection mindset and they cast doubt on whether these individuals were truly in need of specialised support.