EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-MACEDONIA BORDER Migrants reach Greece-Macedonia border on journey to northern Europe
Record ID:
140032
EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-MACEDONIA BORDER Migrants reach Greece-Macedonia border on journey to northern Europe
- Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-MACEDONIA BORDER Migrants reach Greece-Macedonia border on journey to northern Europe
- Date: 11th September 2015
- Summary: IDOMENI, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FAMILIES WALKING THROUGH A FIELD OF TALL GRASS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CARRYING BAGS AND WALKING ON STREET NEAR TOWN/ CHILD WEARING HOODIE SITTING ON MAN'S SHOULDERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LINING UP BY TRAIN TRACKS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING BY TRACKS/ MAN WITH SLEEPING BABY IN CARRIER ANOTHER BABY IN CARRIER PEOPLE STANDING AND WAITING CHILD IN MAN'S ARMS PEOPLE LINING UP ON TRACKS VARIOUS OF COUPLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE, MAHAR FATAH, SAYING: "We hope that everybody will be like Greek people and we hope that this is one first step into Europe and we see something is good and we hope that everything will be like that." PEOPLE IN QUEUE ON TRACKS CHILDREN SITTING ON TRACKS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE, MAHAR FATAH, SAYING: "It is our choice, death to death, and Hungary, we don't care about that, we are running from the death, sir. If we see anything in our way, no problem, just one step far away from the death is good for us." PEOPLE QUEUING VARIOUS OF QUEUE REFLECTED IN WATER LONG LINE OF PEOPLE WAITING FAMILY WAITING IN LINE CHILD SITTING ON MAN'S SHOULDER'S IN LINE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN QUEUE TOWARDS MACEDONIAN BORDER MACEDONIAN POLICE WATCHING PEOPLE WALKING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING OVER TRACKS INTO MACEDONIA VARIOUS OF LITTLE BOY WALKING OVER TRACKS PAST MACEDONIAN POLICE VARIOUS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WAITING ON TRACKS BY IDOMENI TRAIN STATION
- Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA8KCMYNX5F8T4C41Y7ZOB45MN9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of migrants, many of them refugees from the Syrian war, queued by the railroad tracks on Friday (September 11) at a congested border crossing to pass from Greece into Macedonia.
Migrants are flowing in increasing numbers through the Balkan peninsula towards Hungary as Greece ferries them from inundated islands to Athens, from where they head north to the Macedonian border.
Some 7,600 migrants entered Macedonia from Greece between 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Thursday (September 10) and 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Friday, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
Crossing Greece is just one of many challenges facing the migrants in a Europe where their reception ranges from hospitality to hostility.
"We hope that everybody will be like Greek people and we hope that this is one first step into Europe and we see something is good and we hope that everything will be like that," said Mahar Fatah, a 28-year-old bartender from Syria, as he waited by the tracks.
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.
Fatah said no matter what problems Europe throws at him, nothing is worse than what he has run away from.
"It is our choice, death to death, and Hungary, we don't care about that, we are running from the death, sir. If we see anything in our way, no problem, just one step far away from the death is good for us," said Fatah.
At least 850,000 people are expected to cross the Mediterranean seeking refuge in Europe this year and next, the U.N. said on Tuesday (September 8), giving estimates that already look conservative. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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