EUROPE-MIGRANTS/MACEDONIA BORDER MORE Migrants wrapped in blankets queue for buses from Macedonia as colder weather bites

Record ID: 141235

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/MACEDONIA BORDER MORE Migrants wrapped in blankets queue for buses from Macedonia as colder weather bites
  • Date: 10th September 2015
  • Summary: GEVGELIJA, MACEDONIA (SEPTEMBER 10, 2015) (REUTERS) MIGRANTS GATHERED AROUND BUSES MAN CARRYING CHILD ON SHOULDERS WALKING TOWARDS BUSES PEOPLE STANDING BY BUSES MIGRANTS ARGUING OVER BUS SEATS BUS WORKER TELLING DRIVER TO SHUT BUS DOOR AS BUS IS FULL (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIGRANT FROM ALEPPO, SYRIA, AHMAD DABUL, SAYING: "We want to go to the Sweden." MIGRANTS CROWDING TOWARDS ONCOMING BUS MIGRANTS AT BUS DOOR TRYING TO GET IN QUEUE WITH FAMILY FROM SYRIA WAITING, GIRL DANCING AND SINGING BOYS EATING MAN TELLING BOY TO SAY 'BYE BYE' TO CAMERA MAN HOLDING CHILD BUSES IN LINE MIGRANTS INSIDE CRAMPED BUS MIGRANTS ARRIVING, MAN CARRYING CHILD BABY BOY SLEEPING ON MAN'S BACK MIGRANTS ARRIVING REFLECTION OF MIGRANTS ON PUDDLE OF WATER AS THEY ARRIVE
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA487IVWHWWRWYZMWUYPWM1LLEC
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: In the damp and the rain, thousands of migrants waited and jostled on Thursday (September 10) for places on buses to take them northwards from Macedonia towards Serbia.
    Macedonian authorities could not provide enough transportation vehicles to cope with the large numbers of migrants entering the country, tramping through mud and rubbish as they crossed the border from Greece.
    The new arrivals were halted at the border town of Gevgelija and only let on to buses in small groups corresponding to the seats available. Those who did not make it on waited in the rain under the watchful eyes of police.
    Families of refugees, many with small children, were ill-equipped to deal with the heavy rain that started Wednesday (September 9) evening. Babies were wrapped in blankets while the adults had to rely on thin rain capes and hooded jackets.
    "We want to go to the Sweden," one Syrian migrant from Aleppo, Ahmad Dabul, told Reuters as he joined the many hoping to reach western Europe.
    Thousands of refugees have been arriving in Macedonia daily, with no sign that the stream will abate in the coming days.
    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
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