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Migrants Fleeing Hungary Start a Long March Toward Germany Hungary Bows to Defiant Migrants, Promising Buses to the Border
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — Haggard and defiant, hundreds of migrants stormed out of the Keleti train station in Budapest on Friday and set off on foot towards Germany, choosing a 300-mile walk over spending another night in a country where they are not welcome. BUDAPEST — After a day of defiance by increasingly desperate refugees, the government of Hungary metaphorically threw up its hands Friday and offered to bus thousands of migrants to the Austrian border, sending the crisis spinning closer to the heart of the Continent.
An aide to Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a statement that the buses would transport the thousands still thronging the Keleti railroad station in Budapest and the approximately 1,200 people who stormed out of the train station earlier on Friday and set off on foot toward the Austrian border.
“This does not automatically mean that they can leave the country,” the official, Janos Lazar, said. “We are waiting for the Austrian government’s response.” He added that the govermnment was doing this to avoid blockage of the nation’s transit system.
It was not clear what the government planned for the thousands already being held in reception centers around the country, nor what the Austrian government would do when confronted with thousands of refugees at its borders. On Thursday the government made a similar offer of a train ride to the west, but then tried to force the migrants off the train and bus them to a refugee camp outside Budapest.
But there was little doubt that after days of trying, halfheartedly, perhaps, to comply with European Union regulations and registering the refugees, Hungary was ready to follow Greece and Macedonia and pass the burden of the refugees on to the next country to the west, in this case Austria.
The refugees themselves are only too happy to comply, having set their sights on Germany and having scant interest in remaining in a relatively poor country like Hungary. That much was evident earlier in the day, when more than a thousand chose to storm out of Keleti station and embark on a 300-mile walk, rather than spend another night in a country where they are not welcome.
“This is going to go down in history,” said Rami Hassoun, an Egyptian migrant from Alexandria helping to corral the crowds on a six-lane highway to Austria, where the migrants were accompanied by a police patrol.“This is going to go down in history,” said Rami Hassoun, an Egyptian migrant from Alexandria helping to corral the crowds on a six-lane highway to Austria, where the migrants were accompanied by a police patrol.
Elsewhere, hundreds of migrants remained locked in a standoff with the police at the Bicske station outside Budapest, demanding that train service to the west be restored, so they could continue their journeys to more prosperous European countries, like Germany or Sweden. Elsewhere, a standoff with the police at the Bicske station outside Budapest ended on Friday with hundreds of refugees fleeing the train and others agreeing to enter a nearby reception center.
Hundreds of others stormed out of a reception camp in the country’s south, highlighting their desperation to flee. Hundreds of others fled a camp in the country’s south, near the Serbian border where they had entered.
The chaos in Hungary reflected the inadequacy of an asylum policy across the 28-member European Union bloc that has forced migrants to register or apply for asylum in the country where they arrive — though in many cases that becomes the country where they are discovered or detained by authorities. The chaos in Hungary reflected the inadequacy of a refugee policy across the 28-member European Union that has forced migrants to register or apply for asylum in the country where they arrive — though in many cases that becomes the country where they are discovered or detained by the authorities.
Once they register and apply, they must remain in that country — even if that country, like Hungary, is so hostile to migrants that it is building a 110-mile fence on its border with Serbia to keep them away. Once they register and apply, they must remain there — even if that country is as hostile to migrants as Hungary, which is building a 110-mile fence on its border with Serbia to keep them away.
On Friday, as the humanitarian crisis involving tens of thousands of migrants continued, lawmakers introduced changes to its penal code that would impose tougher measures on migrants — including a new law that makes crossing or damaging the fence punishable by prison or expulsion.On Friday, as the humanitarian crisis involving tens of thousands of migrants continued, lawmakers introduced changes to its penal code that would impose tougher measures on migrants — including a new law that makes crossing or damaging the fence punishable by prison or expulsion.
So flagrant is Hungary’s apparent animosity for migrants that the U.N. said its leaders had declined to accept assistance from the agency that supports refugees, including for migrants at Keleti, the main Budapest railway station, where thousands have been stranded in recent days without adequate food, lodgings or water. The United Nations said Hungary’s leaders had declined to accept assistance from the agency that supports refugees, including for migrants at Keleti, the main Budapest railway station, where thousands have been stranded in recent days. The meager humanitarian aid at the station is provided by a group of volunteers that formed on Facebook.
Hungary’s center-right prime minister Viktor Orban has said he intends to enforce the E.U. rule about asylum, which he has been doing since he was criticized earlier in the week for just pushing migrants through the country. At the same time, he has referred to the migrants as “illegal,” regardless of their perilous journeys from strife or civil war, warned against an influx of Muslims and insisted on Friday that Europeans risked becoming a minority in their own continent. Hungary’s center-right prime minister, Mr. Orban, has said he intends to enforce the European Union rule about asylum, which he has been doing since he was criticized earlier in the week for the then-practice of pushing migrants through the country. At the same time, he has referred to the migrants as “illegal,” regardless of their perilous journeys from strife or civil war, warned against an influx of Muslims and insisted on Friday that Europeans risked becoming a minority in their own continent.
“The reality is that Europe is threatened by a mass inflow of people, many tens of millions of people could come to Europe,” Reuters quoted Mr. Orban as saying on public radio.“The reality is that Europe is threatened by a mass inflow of people, many tens of millions of people could come to Europe,” Reuters quoted Mr. Orban as saying on public radio.
“Now we talk about hundreds of thousands, but next year we will talk about millions and there is no end to this,” he said. “All of a sudden we will see that we are in minority in our own continent.”“Now we talk about hundreds of thousands, but next year we will talk about millions and there is no end to this,” he said. “All of a sudden we will see that we are in minority in our own continent.”
Mr. Orban’s comments underlined divisions in Europe over how to respond to the migration crisis: While Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said on Friday that his country would take in thousands more Syrians, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has said it is a legal and moral imperative for Europe to provide sanctuary, some countries, including Britain, have responded reluctantly, while others like Hungary have been downright hostile.Mr. Orban’s comments underlined divisions in Europe over how to respond to the migration crisis: While Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said on Friday that his country would take in thousands more Syrians, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has said it is a legal and moral imperative for Europe to provide sanctuary, some countries, including Britain, have responded reluctantly, while others like Hungary have been downright hostile.
Clashes over how to deal with the influx of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere dominated a meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Friday in Luxembourg, with no concrete resolution. France and Germany have backed a radical overhaul of the way European Union members share the responsibilities of coping with the crisis, suggesting that countries take in migrants according to their relative wealth and populations. But others have balked at the proposals. Clashes over how to deal with the influx of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere dominated a meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Friday in Luxembourg, with no concrete proposals. France and Germany have backed a radical overhaul of the way European Union members share the responsibilities of coping with the crisis, suggesting that countries take in migrants according to their relative wealth and populations. But others have balked at the proposals.
Representatives of the so-called Visegrad group of countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia — meeting in Prague on Friday to forge a common approach, appeared to rally behind Mr. Orban, with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka railing against quotas and saying that the “chaos” caused by the migration crisis was undermining the confidence of European citizens.Representatives of the so-called Visegrad group of countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia — meeting in Prague on Friday to forge a common approach, appeared to rally behind Mr. Orban, with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka railing against quotas and saying that the “chaos” caused by the migration crisis was undermining the confidence of European citizens.
The leaders cited concerns about public safety and the threat of terrorists sneaking in along with the many escaping war and conflict — a worry shared throughout Europe in the wake of terror attacks, some carried out by those who have returned from war zones in the Middle East.The leaders cited concerns about public safety and the threat of terrorists sneaking in along with the many escaping war and conflict — a worry shared throughout Europe in the wake of terror attacks, some carried out by those who have returned from war zones in the Middle East.
When a trainful of migrants arrived at Bicske on Thursday, local volunteers took no time to appear. At a demonstration on Wednesday night in Budapest, tens of thousands pressed the government to step up its relief efforts. Not all Hungarians have been hostile. Besides those volunteering at the train station, tens of thousands turned out Wednesday night in Budapest to press their government to step up its relief efforts.
Ayham Kaka, 30, was waiting to depart for Berlin last Monday, with ticket in hand. “We don’t come to stay in Hungary,” he said. “It is a very dangerous situation, the police are very dangerous,” he added. But the migrants report a lack of food, water and shelter; little health care or legal assistance; and frequently aggressive policing. Journalists have been kept out of the reception camps, so cannot report on conditions. And in the eyes of many migrants, Hungary pales in comparison to Germany.
“It is better in Germany,” Mr. Kaka said. “Germany help people who are Syrian, study, give people money, house...” “We don’t come to stay in Hungary,” said Ayham Kaka, 30, on Monday while waiting to depart for Berlin, his ticket in hand.
Eastern and Central European countries, which had relatively modest levels of immigration under Communist rule, have been struggling with how to integrate immigrants into society amid fears that a sudden influx of migrants could undermine the European economy and their way of life. “It is a very dangerous situation, the police are very dangerous,” he added. “It is better in Germany. Germany help people who are Syrian, study, give people money, house...”
The day of talks offered little comfort to the migrants in Hungary who hope to make it to Germany but who find themselves effectively trapped.
Subhi, a 17-year-old migrant from Damascus, Syria, was among those walking to Germany, even though he walks with a limp. “I’m fed up,” he said. “I’m going to walk all the way to Germany to get treatment.”Subhi, a 17-year-old migrant from Damascus, Syria, was among those walking to Germany, even though he walks with a limp. “I’m fed up,” he said. “I’m going to walk all the way to Germany to get treatment.”
Imad Sbeih, a 50-year-old man in a wheelchair who is also from Damascus, was equally determined. “Nothing but death will stop us,” he said.Imad Sbeih, a 50-year-old man in a wheelchair who is also from Damascus, was equally determined. “Nothing but death will stop us,” he said.
The local news media reported that up to 300 migrants escaped from a camp at Roszke, in southern Hungary, on Friday morning, running into a field and crossing a highway with the police chasing them.The local news media reported that up to 300 migrants escaped from a camp at Roszke, in southern Hungary, on Friday morning, running into a field and crossing a highway with the police chasing them.
In Bicske, migrants continued to barricade themselves in a train to avoid being sent to a nearby camp. Others fled the train and escaped. In Bicske, scores of migrants relented and allowed the authorities to take them to a nearby camp on Friday, the Hungarian state news agency reported, though many others continued to barricade themselves in a train to avoid just that.
Migrants said the situation on the train was becoming unbearable, with the stench of clogged toilets wafting through the cars. Others talked of pursuing a policy of passive resistance, hoping that Hungary would cave into their demands, even as the authorities were digging in Migrants said the situation on the train was becoming unbearable, with the stench of clogged toilets and little to eat or drink. Others talked of pursuing a policy of passive resistance, hoping that Hungary would cave into their demands, even as the authorities were digging in
Laszlo Balazs, a police official in charge of border control, was quoted by the Hungarian state news agency as saying that 120 migrants on a separate train, which had also stopped, had agreed to be escorted to a camp in Vamosszabadi, near the border with Slovakia, where they would be registered by immigration officials. Laszlo Balazs, a police official in charge of border control, was quoted by the Hungarian state news agency as saying that 120 migrants on a separate train, which had also been stopped by the authorities, had agreed to be escorted to a camp in Vamosszabadi, near the border with Slovakia, where they would be registered by immigration officials.
He said that in Bicske, too, the police were hoping to persuade migrants to cooperate.
The police said they had detained over 3,000 people crossing the border illegally and 11 suspected of people smuggling. Asked about a video by The New York Times, showing people identified as police officers pepper spraying migrants about to cross the border with Serbia, Mr. Balazs said they were investigating the episode.The police said they had detained over 3,000 people crossing the border illegally and 11 suspected of people smuggling. Asked about a video by The New York Times, showing people identified as police officers pepper spraying migrants about to cross the border with Serbia, Mr. Balazs said they were investigating the episode.
Indifference to migrants has not been limited to Hungary, with internal politics — the spread and growth of right-wing, anti-migrant parties — framing many of the leaders’ responses to the crisis. Indifference to migrants has not been limited to Hungary. Domestic politics — the spread and growth of right-wing, anti-immigrant parties — have been framing many of the leaders’ responses to the crisis.
In Britain Mr. Cameron responded Friday to what his critics call his apathy to the crisis by vowing to accept thousands more Syrians — but only from existing camps near the conflict zone. Leaders are trying to find the difficult balance between offering assistance and not encouraging more people to head to Europe. In Britain, Mr. Cameron responded Friday to what his critics call his apathy to the crisis by vowing to accept thousands more Syrians — but only from existing camps near the conflict zone. Leaders are trying to find the difficult balance between offering assistance and not encouraging more people to head to Europe.
Mr. Cameron, who is trying to manage anti-immigration sentiment in the country as well as in his own Conservative Party, had been criticized for dismissing on Wednesday the idea of Britain adhering to a quota system for taking in asylum seekers who reached Europe.Mr. Cameron, who is trying to manage anti-immigration sentiment in the country as well as in his own Conservative Party, had been criticized for dismissing on Wednesday the idea of Britain adhering to a quota system for taking in asylum seekers who reached Europe.
”We think the most important thing is to try to bring peace and stability to that part of the world,” he said, adding “I don’t think there is an answer that can be achieved simply by taking more and more refugees.” ”We think the most important thing is to try to bring peace and stability to that part of the world,” he said, referring to Syria. He added, “I don’t think there is an answer that can be achieved simply by taking more and more refugees.”
Mr. Cameron gave no details or firm numbers on the number of people Britain would take in. But Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said that the country would take in 4,000 more Syrians. Mr. Cameron gave no details or firm numbers on how many Britain would take in. But Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said that the country would take in 4,000 more Syrians.
Mr. Cameron also emphasized that Britain is spending 900 million pounds, about $1.37 billion, this year to aid Syrians with food, shelter and medical supplies. Later on Friday, he said that Britain would spend £100 million more on aid for Syrians, bringing the total to £1 billion. In the past four years, roughly 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in Britain.Mr. Cameron also emphasized that Britain is spending 900 million pounds, about $1.37 billion, this year to aid Syrians with food, shelter and medical supplies. Later on Friday, he said that Britain would spend £100 million more on aid for Syrians, bringing the total to £1 billion. In the past four years, roughly 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in Britain.
The head of the United Nations refugee agency chief, António Guterres, said on Friday that the European Union should take in 200,000 people under an emergency relocation program.The head of the United Nations refugee agency chief, António Guterres, said on Friday that the European Union should take in 200,000 people under an emergency relocation program.
The appeal highlighted the escalation in the movement of migrants, with more than 310,000 reaching southern Europe this year. The appeal highlighted the escalation in the movement of migrants, with more than 310,000 reaching southern Europe this year. Germany expects 800,000 by year’s end.
In Syria, a funeral was held Friday for Aylan Kurdi, the 3-year-old boy whose drowning set off a global outcry after photographs of his body circulated on the Internet. His brother, Ghalib, and mother, Rehan, were also buried on Friday. The family had been trying to reach Greece by boat. In Syria, a funeral was held Friday for Aylan Kurdi, the 3-year-old boy whose drowning set off a global outcry after photographs of his body were published. His brother, Ghalib, and mother, Rehan, were also buried on Friday. The family had been trying to reach Greece by boat.