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Migrants Crisis: Tensions Rise In Balkans As Numbers Increase

Tempers are rising among thousands of migrants heading north through Balkan States as their route to western Europe is stalled by new controls. Croatia had … Continue reading Migrants Crisis: Tensions Rise In Balkans As Numbers Increase


migrants-4Tempers are rising among thousands of migrants heading north through Balkan States as their route to western Europe is stalled by new controls.

Croatia had asked its northern neighbour Slovenia to accept 5,000 migrants daily, but Slovenia said it would only take half that number.

The move had led to a build-up of people on Croatia’s border with Serbia.

Hungary, citing security concerns, had closed its borders with Serbia and Croatia, forcing migrants to switch to a slower route via Slovenia.

Buses crammed with people were backed up in Serbia on Sunday, and tempers flared between frustrated migrants and overstretched police officers.

Thousands of asylum seekers travelled north through the Balkans, with most aimed to reach Austria, Germany and other EU States.

Explaining Slovenia’s new restrictions on Sunday, Interior Ministry State Secretary, Bostjan Sefic, said that its northern neighbour, Austria was only accepting a maximum of 1,500 people a day.

He said that Slovenia “cannot accept unlimited numbers of migrants if we know that they cannot continue their journey”.