CORRECTION-EUROPE-MIGRANTS/MACEDONIA BORDER Some 7,600 migrants enter Macedonia from Greece in 24 hours

Record ID: 140027

  • Title: CORRECTION-EUROPE-MIGRANTS/MACEDONIA BORDER Some 7,600 migrants enter Macedonia from Greece in 24 hours
  • Date: 11th September 2015
  • Summary: GREEK- MACEDONIAN BORDER (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) GREEK POLICMEN/ MIGRANTS WALKING TOWARDS BORDER VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WALKING MIGRANTS CROSSING BORDER SHOWS: GEVGELIJA, MACEDONIA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) MIGRANTS PASSING NEAR MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS MIGRANT CARRYING BABY GIRL MIGRANTS AT A CAMP/ ALEXANDRA KRAUSE OF UNHCR GIVING A MAN FOOD KRAUSE TAKING A BOX OF FOOD KRAUSE HANDING FOOD TO MIGRANT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENIOR PROTECTION OFFICER AT UNHCR, ALEXANDRA KRAUSE, SAYING: "So yesterday we had over 7,600 people arriving, from six p.m. to six p.m. This night we had already three trains leaving, I am waiting for the latest figures now, but it seems that there are several thousand who have left already again. (Journalist asking: Do you expect the same wave of refugees in upcoming days?) Yes, we have information from our Greek colleagues that the buses are on the way, so they will be coming and they continue to come. Our hope is that it won't be a sudden influx, so that we don't have too many people and that the border management will function and we have small groups coming in one at a time." MIGRANTS IN CAMP MIGRANTS WALKING MIGRANTS WALKING TOWARDS THE BUSES BUSES/MIGRANTS MIGRANTS BOARDING BUS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS ON BUS LITLLE GIRL MAKING A "HEART" SIGN WITH HER HANDS MIGRANTS BOARDING BUS
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABMN0451LX4Q3QZVG69E4JVATD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Some 7,600 migrants, many of them refugees from the Syrian war, entered Macedonia from Greece between 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Wednesday (September 9) and 6 p.m. on Thursday (September 10), an official with the United Nations refugee agency said on the border on Friday (September 11).
    The new arrivals were halted at the border town of Gevgelija by the army and police, who then allowed the migrants to continue northwards in smaller groups depending on the transportation available.
    While waiting at a temporary camp, migrants are registered and receive food and water from the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR.
    "Yesterday we had over 7,600 people arriving, from six p.m. to six p.m. This night we had already three trains leaving, I am waiting for the latest figures now, but it seems that there are several thousand who have left already again," UNHCR senior protection officer Alexandra Krause said.
    Thousands of refugees have been arriving in Macedonia daily, with no sign that the influx will slow in the coming days.
    "We have information from our Greek colleagues that the buses are on the way, so they will be coming and they continue to come. Our hope is that it won't be a sudden influx, so that we don't have too many people and that the border management will function and we have small groups coming in one at a time," Krause said.
    At least 850,000 people are expected to cross the Mediterranean seeking refuge in Europe this year and next, the United Nations said on Tuesday (September 8), giving estimates that already look conservative.
    Many are refugees from Syria, driven to make the voyage by intensified fighting there and worsening conditions for refugees in surrounding countries due to funding shortfalls in aid.
    For most, the ultimate goal is Germany, where they hope they will be able to apply for asylum and build a better life.
    But the last leg on their journey before they get into the European Union's Schengen passport-free zone is Serbia's border with Hungary, which Hungarian authorities have reinforced by constructing a fence and stepping up patrols, arresting hundreds who try crossing it on foot.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register