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Europe's migrant crisis will not slow and EU nations must share duties, says UN Europe's migrant crisis will not slow and EU nations must share duties, says UN
(about 1 hour later)
Migrants will continue to arrive in southern Europe at the rate of 3,000 a day until November, the UN’s refugee agency predicted on Tuesday, as record numbers of people crossed into Hungary. Migrants will continue to arrive in southern Europe at the rate of 3,000 a day until November, the UN’s refugee agency has predicted, as record numbers of people crossed into Hungary.
Related: Hungary’s migrant fence is simply a pointless PR exercise | Patrick KingsleyRelated: Hungary’s migrant fence is simply a pointless PR exercise | Patrick Kingsley
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said all EU member states should share the burden of Europe’s worst refugee crisis since the second world war, with an “equitable redistribution” of families seeking asylum.The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said all EU member states should share the burden of Europe’s worst refugee crisis since the second world war, with an “equitable redistribution” of families seeking asylum.
According to the UNHCR, nearly 300,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year – 181,500 to Greece and 108,500 to Italy. About 10,000 migrants arrived in Macedonia from Greece over the weekend despite the Macedonian authorities’ attempts to stop them.According to the UNHCR, nearly 300,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year – 181,500 to Greece and 108,500 to Italy. About 10,000 migrants arrived in Macedonia from Greece over the weekend despite the Macedonian authorities’ attempts to stop them.
“They are coming in large groups of 300 to 400 people and then travelling onwards by train or bus to Serbia,” said UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming on Tuesday. “We are anticipating that this influx and this route is going to continue at the rate of up to 3,000 people per day.”. “They are coming in large groups of 300 to 400 people and then travelling onwards by train or bus to Serbia,” said the UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming on Tuesday. “We are anticipating that this influx and this route is going to continue at the rate of up to 3,000 people per day.”.
She added: “We do not see any end to the flow of people in the coming months, where there’s good weather and people can continue to cross the Mediterranean.”She added: “We do not see any end to the flow of people in the coming months, where there’s good weather and people can continue to cross the Mediterranean.”
The latest bottleneck continued on Tuesday in Hungary, where refugees were continuing their journey north despite efforts by the government to stop them. According to police data, 2,093 migrants were detained on Monday, the highest figure so far this year. Over the past week the daily average has been 1,493. The latest bottleneck is in Hungary, where refugees were continuing their journey north despite efforts by the government to stop them. According to police data, 2,093 migrants were detained on Monday, the highest figure so far this year. Over the past week the daily average has been 1,493.
Related: Migrants on Hungary's border fence: 'This wall, we will not accept it'Related: Migrants on Hungary's border fence: 'This wall, we will not accept it'
At Budapest’s Nyugati train station volunteers have set up a transit zone, providing up to 300 migrants per day with food, warm water and first aid. Some of the migrants have tents – many donated by attendees of the recent Sziget music festival – but most sleep in cramped conditions on grassy banks on the edge of the station. At Budapest’s Nyugati train station, volunteers have set up a transit zone providing up to 300 migrants per day with food, warm water and first aid. Some of the migrants have tents – many donated by attendees of the recent Sziget music festival – but most sleep in cramped conditions on grassy banks on the edge of the station.
“This is a good place, for a few days,” Abdul Jalil Raousi, 26, from Kabul, told the Guardian. “They have us everything we need: shower, toilet, food, water.” Raousi said he had travelled to Hungary with his cousin and a friend, adding: “We are going to Germany.” “This is a good place, for a few days,” Abdul Jalil Raousi, 26, from Kabul, told the Guardian. “They gave us everything we need: shower, toilet, food, water.” Raousi said he had travelled to Hungary with his cousin and a friend, adding: “We are going to Germany.”
At Röszke on the Hungarian-Serbian border Hassan, a 30-year-old IT engineer from Syria, said smugglers had forced him to drive a boat of fellow migrants from Turkey to Greece. He said his three-year-old nephew had cut his head on razor wire as they entered Hungary. At Röszke, on the Hungarian-Serbian border, Hassan, a 30-year-old IT engineer from Syria, said smugglers had forced him to drive a boat full of fellow migrants from Turkey to Greece. He said his three-year-old nephew had cut his head on razor wire as they entered Hungary.
Hassan said it had cost $1,150 (£730) for the boat trip, with the children paying half, and that the smugglers ran a highly sophisticated operation. “Everything is on the internet. There are Facebook pages in Arabic where you can find all the information: phone numbers for smugglers in every country – even reviews on whether they are a good smuggler or a bad smuggler,” he told Reuters.Hassan said it had cost $1,150 (£730) for the boat trip, with the children paying half, and that the smugglers ran a highly sophisticated operation. “Everything is on the internet. There are Facebook pages in Arabic where you can find all the information: phone numbers for smugglers in every country – even reviews on whether they are a good smuggler or a bad smuggler,” he told Reuters.
The Hungarian government is building a fence along the 175km Serbian border. Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has defended the decision, saying Brussels has failed to offer a solution to the migrant crisis. His ruling Fidesz party wants to punish anyone who damages it with up to four years in jail and to make crossing the border a criminal offence. The Hungarian government is building a fence along its 110-mile border with Serbia. Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has defended the decision, saying Brussels has failed to offer a solution to the migrant crisis. His ruling Fidesz party wants to punish anyone who damages the fence with up to four years in jail and to make crossing the border a criminal offence.
About 90% of refugees leave Hungary within days. Sophie Marton, a one-time London resident who works as a volunteer in Budapest, say most of those who end up in city-sponsored camps are Afghans. “Syrians tend to have more money and can organise their own travel,” she said. About 90% of refugees leave Hungary within days. Sophie Marton, a one-time London resident who works as a volunteer in Budapest, said most of those who ended up in city-sponsored camps were Afghans. “Syrians tend to have more money and can organise their own travel,” she said.
Marton said the migrant situation has come as a shock for many of her fellow Hungarians. “I wouldn’t mind a bit more colour, not only on our skin, but in our culture. The question for the future is: can we get used to it?” she said. Marton said the migrant situation had come as a shock for many Hungarians. “I wouldn’t mind a bit more colour, not only on our skin, but in our culture. The question for the future is: can we get used to it?” she said.
About 140,000 migrants have reached Hungary this year, over three times as many as in the whole of 2014. According to UNHCR, Germany and Sweden have taken 43% of asylum seekers in the EU. Austria has also taken a “huge number” proportionate to its size, while other countries have taken very few. About 140,000 migrants have reached Hungary this year, more than three times as many as in the whole of 2014. According to UNHCR, Germany and Sweden have taken 43% of asylum seekers in the EU. Austria has also taken a “huge number” relative to its size, while other countries have taken very few.
“We honestly believe if correct measures are taken this is something that Europe can handle,” Fleming said. “It’s a bigger number than last year, yes. But it’s not going to turn Europe upside down.”“We honestly believe if correct measures are taken this is something that Europe can handle,” Fleming said. “It’s a bigger number than last year, yes. But it’s not going to turn Europe upside down.”