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Migrant crisis: Croatia to allow migrants to travel north | Migrant crisis: Croatia to allow migrants to travel north |
(34 minutes later) | |
Croatia says it will allow migrants to travel on to northern Europe - opening up a new route a day after Hungary sealed its border with Serbia. | Croatia says it will allow migrants to travel on to northern Europe - opening up a new route a day after Hungary sealed its border with Serbia. |
More than 150 migrants have crossed into Croatia from Serbia. Those stranded on Serbia's border with Hungary are making a similar trip. | More than 150 migrants have crossed into Croatia from Serbia. Those stranded on Serbia's border with Hungary are making a similar trip. |
Croatia says it is ready to receive them or "direct" them to where they want to go. | Croatia says it is ready to receive them or "direct" them to where they want to go. |
Many migrants - mainly Syrian - are hoping to reach Germany. | Many migrants - mainly Syrian - are hoping to reach Germany. |
New border restrictions and a row over allocating migrants have shown bitter divisions in Europe over the crisis. | New border restrictions and a row over allocating migrants have shown bitter divisions in Europe over the crisis. |
More on the migrant crisis: | More on the migrant crisis: |
The refugees who chose Brazil over Europe | The refugees who chose Brazil over Europe |
Five 'happy refugees' pictures that went viral | Five 'happy refugees' pictures that went viral |
Crisis explained in graphics | Crisis explained in graphics |
The BBC's Lyse Doucet says buses, vans and cars have been taking migrants away from the Serbia-Hungary border area towards the Serbian capital, Belgrade, and the border with Croatia. | The BBC's Lyse Doucet says buses, vans and cars have been taking migrants away from the Serbia-Hungary border area towards the Serbian capital, Belgrade, and the border with Croatia. |
On Tuesday, Hungary declared a state of emergency in the border area, with hundreds of army and police deployed to enforce new laws making it an offence to breach a razor-wire border fence. | On Tuesday, Hungary declared a state of emergency in the border area, with hundreds of army and police deployed to enforce new laws making it an offence to breach a razor-wire border fence. |
Police sealed a railway crossing point near Roszke which had been used by tens of thousands of migrants to enter the European border-free Schengen zone. | Police sealed a railway crossing point near Roszke which had been used by tens of thousands of migrants to enter the European border-free Schengen zone. |
The EU's border agency says more than 500,000 migrants have arrived at the EU's borders so far this year, compared with 280,000 in 2014. | The EU's border agency says more than 500,000 migrants have arrived at the EU's borders so far this year, compared with 280,000 in 2014. |
Many are fleeing conflict and poverty in countries including Syria, where a civil war has been raging since 2011. | Many are fleeing conflict and poverty in countries including Syria, where a civil war has been raging since 2011. |
The migrants have been crossing from Turkey, with about 1,000 in the city of Edirne on Wednesday, waiting to organise a crossing into Greece. Their journey would then take them to Macedonia and Serbia. | |
Until Monday, most poured into Schengen member Hungary and crossed into Austria to reach Germany. Both Germany and Austria have introduced tighter border controls to control the flow. | Until Monday, most poured into Schengen member Hungary and crossed into Austria to reach Germany. Both Germany and Austria have introduced tighter border controls to control the flow. |
At the scene: James Reynolds, BBC News, Serbia-Hungary border | |
Several hundred refugees and migrants are milling about here on the last few metres of Serbian territory. In front of them, the border gate into Hungary is locked. A line of Hungarian police wearing riot gear stands on the other side of a roll of razor wire. | |
"Open the gate, open the gate," chants a group of several dozen migrants and refugees. | |
One man half-scales the gate and begs the Hungarian police to let everyone in. But he gets no response. | |
Further back in the makeshift encampment, the atmosphere is much calmer. Volunteers distribute food and drink from vans. Next to a TV satellite truck, several people charge their smartphones. Refugee families rest in their tents. | |
"I will stay here forever," says Saleh, a law student from Damascus. "I can't go back." | |
Serbian media say at least 10 buses were heading to the town of Sid, near the Croatian border, from Presevo near Serbia's southern border with Macedonia. | Serbian media say at least 10 buses were heading to the town of Sid, near the Croatian border, from Presevo near Serbia's southern border with Macedonia. |
Among those who arrived early on Wednesday was Amadou, 35, from Mauritania. | Among those who arrived early on Wednesday was Amadou, 35, from Mauritania. |
"We heard that Hungary was closed so the police told us we should come this way," he told AFP news agency. | "We heard that Hungary was closed so the police told us we should come this way," he told AFP news agency. |
Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic told parliament that authorities were "entirely ready to receive or direct those people where they want to go, which is obviously Germany or Scandinavian countries". | Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic told parliament that authorities were "entirely ready to receive or direct those people where they want to go, which is obviously Germany or Scandinavian countries". |
"They will be able to pass through Croatia and we will help, we're getting ready for that possibility," he said. | "They will be able to pass through Croatia and we will help, we're getting ready for that possibility," he said. |
A meeting of the Croatian National Security Council has been called to co-ordinate the response. | A meeting of the Croatian National Security Council has been called to co-ordinate the response. |
Migrants have been crossing into Croatia on foot - avoiding the official border crossing point. | Migrants have been crossing into Croatia on foot - avoiding the official border crossing point. |
Police are registering them before taking them to reception centres. | Police are registering them before taking them to reception centres. |
Croatian media have warned of the dangers posed by landmines dating back to Croatia's war of independence in the early 1990s, even though experts say the areas are clearly marked. | Croatian media have warned of the dangers posed by landmines dating back to Croatia's war of independence in the early 1990s, even though experts say the areas are clearly marked. |
The Serbian minister in charge of the government's committee on migrants, Aleksandar Vulin, argued that the border closure by Hungary was unsustainable for his country. | The Serbian minister in charge of the government's committee on migrants, Aleksandar Vulin, argued that the border closure by Hungary was unsustainable for his country. |
Hungary has also said it could extend its fence to the border with Romania - another possible route. Romania said this would violate the "European spirit" of co-operation. | Hungary has also said it could extend its fence to the border with Romania - another possible route. Romania said this would violate the "European spirit" of co-operation. |
Are you seeking refuge in Europe? Will you be heading to Croatia? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you seeking refuge in Europe? Will you be heading to Croatia? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |