EUROPE-MIGRANTS/MACEDONIA RAIN Thousands of refugees spend a night in the rain on Macedonian border
Record ID:
141268
EUROPE-MIGRANTS/MACEDONIA RAIN Thousands of refugees spend a night in the rain on Macedonian border
- Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/MACEDONIA RAIN Thousands of refugees spend a night in the rain on Macedonian border
- Date: 10th September 2015
- Summary: GEVGELIJA, MACEDONIA (SEPTEMBER 10, 2015) (REUTERS) REFUGEES STANDING IN THE RAIN WHILE TRYING TO ENTER A CAMP MACEDONIAN POLICE AT THE GATE SPEAKING TO REFUGEES WOMAN HOLDING A CHILD VARIOUS OF PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED MAN FROM DAMASCUS, SAYING: "We are humans not an animal. We are under rains from seven hours. Look, no clothes, no jacket, no food. We are so afraid. We will die if we stay here in the rain for a another hour. We need help," MEN WALKING AWAY REFUGEES WALKING THROUGH PUDDLE OF WATER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGINEER FROM ALEPPO, AYMAN SAYED ALI, SAYING: "I am sick. Four hour, four hour under the rain," MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES QUEUING TO BOARD A TRAIN TRAIN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING IN THE RAIN VARIOUS OF TRAIN PULLING AWAY
- Embargoed: 25th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2EIY1FH6N06Y8K1JQIP4DLQK3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of migrants and refugees were left soaked on Thursday (September 10) morning after spending the night in the rain on the Greek-Macedonian border.
They crossed from Greece into the town of Gevgelija in order to board a train, but because of their large numbers, many found themselves spending the night outdoors, waiting for the next train to arrive.
"We are humans not an animal. We are under rains from seven hours. Look, no clothes, no jacket, no food. We are so afraid. We will die if we stay here in the rain for a another hour. We need help," said a man from Damascus who lost all his clothes on the journey to Greece.
Some people decided not to wait for the train but instead went to Gevgelija to try to find buses or taxis to take them further north to Serbia.
"I am sick. Four hour, four hour under the rain," said Ayman Sayed Ali, an engineer from Aleppo.
Some 23,000 people are expected to arrive at the Macedonian border in the next two to three days, according to U.N. refugee agency UNHCR.
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.
UNHCR has called for more cohesive asylum policies to deal with the growing numbers.
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 programmes, UNHCR said. Hundreds have died at sea.
The Macedonian government has organised trains twice a day to the north of the country, where migrants cross into Serbia on their way to European Union member Hungary, but with thousands arriving from Greece, authorities have also provided additional buses to take people north.
For most, the ultimate goal is Germany, where they hope they will be able to apply for asylum and build a better life.
Germany told its European partners on Monday (September 7) they must take in more refugees as it handles record numbers of asylum seekers.
But the last leg on the journey before refugees and migrants 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.
Authorities have arrested hundreds who try to cross it on foot. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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