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Refugee crisis: Austria welcomes thousands arriving at its border on buses from Hungary Refugee crisis: Austria welcomes thousands of migrants arriving at its border on busses from Hungary
(4 months later)
More than 4,000 refugees and migrants have arrived at the Austrian border on a fleet of buses provided by the Hungarian government. More than 4,000 migrants have arrived in Austria, arriving at the border on a fleet of busses provided by the Hungarian government.
Austrian Red Cross workers provided hot tea and blankets in hastily assembled shelters. Austrian Red Cross workers provided hot tea and blankets to the migrants in hastily assembled shelters.
Many collapsed in exhaustion on the floor, but all appeared jubilant at their arrival.Many collapsed in exhaustion on the floor, but all appeared jubilant at their arrival.
Following their arrival, the migrants were placed on trains to the capital, Vienna, and the city of Salzburg. The migrants arrival in Austria eases pressure on Hungary, which has struggled to manage the flow of thousands of people across its own border.
Vienna city official Roman Hahslinger said 2,300 had arrived by in Vienna by midday on Saturday, while 1,500 were headed to Salzburg. The move was made possible after Austria, on Hungary's western border, announced it would follow Germany in taking responsibility for the migrants.
Migrants smile as they arrive at the village of Nickelsdorf (Getty) The refugee's arrival in Austria eases pressure on Hungary, which has struggled to manage the flow of thousands of people across its own border.
The move was made possible after Austria, on Hungary's western border, announced it would follow Germany in taking responsibility for the refugees and migrants.
Werner Faymann, the Austrian chancellor, announced the decision after speaking with German chancellor Angela Merkel.Werner Faymann, the Austrian chancellor, announced the decision after speaking with German chancellor Angela Merkel.
Hungary had demanded that those crossing through its territory report to government-run asylum centres, leading to a tense stand-off between authorities and migrants for several days. Hungary had demanded that migrants crossing through its territory report to government-run asylum centres, leading to a tense stand-off with migrants for several days.
The government eventually relented on that demand in the face of resistance from the migrants and refugees, largely from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The government eventually relented on that demand in the face of resistance from the migrants, largely from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many, blocked by the authorities from boarding international trains in Budapest, began the 135km journey on foot, leading to a half-mile-long line of humanity streaming from Keleti station onto the main road. The migrants, blocked by the authorities from boarding international trains in Budapest, began the 135km journey on foot, leading to a half-mile-long line of humanity streaming from Keleti station onto the main road.
Migrants board a train in the village of Nickelsdorf, heading to the Austrian city of Salzburg (Getty) Some were in wheelchairs and others were using crutches. Some where in wheelchairs and others were on crutches.
Hundreds more people broke through police lines at a train station in the western town of Bicske, where police were trying to take them to a refugee camp.Hundreds more people broke through police lines at a train station in the western town of Bicske, where police were trying to take them to a refugee camp.
On Friday the Hungarian authorities dispatched buses to pick up people and transport them to the border with Austria. On Friday the Hungarian authorities dispatched busses to pick up the migrants and transport them to the border with Austria.
Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesman for the Hungarian government, told the Associated Press the buses had been provided as an exceptional measure. Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesman for the Hungarian government, told The Associated Press the buses had been provided as an exceptional measure.
Most of those arriving in Austria say they want to settle in Germany (Getty) He said Hungary would continue to abide by EU rules, which include an obligation to register all asylum seekers at the first EU point of entry. He said Hungary would continue to abide by EU rules, which include an obligation to register all asylum seekers at the first EU point of entry.
Austrian Federal Railways said the arriving migrants would be placed on trains to the capital, Vienna, and the city of Salzburg.
Although Austria says it will offer the newcomers asylum opportunities, most say they want to settle in Germany.Although Austria says it will offer the newcomers asylum opportunities, most say they want to settle in Germany.
German officials recently predicted that up to 800,000 migrants and refugees would arrive by the end of the year.
(Additional reporting by agencies)