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15,000 Migrants in Croatia Stranded by Border Crackdown 15,000 Migrants Stranded in Croatia by Border Crackdown
(about 1 hour later)
BELI MANASTIR, Croatia — At least 15,000 migrants found themselves all but trapped in Croatia on Friday, having been barred from Hungary, sent packing from Serbia and unable to move on to Slovenia.BELI MANASTIR, Croatia — At least 15,000 migrants found themselves all but trapped in Croatia on Friday, having been barred from Hungary, sent packing from Serbia and unable to move on to Slovenia.
The human exodus, the result of Hungary’s decision on Tuesday to seal its borders, was orderly but miserable. Along the roads of eastern Croatia, the migrants’ detritus — abandoned blankets, torn clothing, empty cans of tuna — littered the highways. Those who could afford to take a taxi westward did so; others boarded buses or simply walked. The human exodus was peaceful but miserable. Along the roads of eastern Croatia, the migrants’ detritus — abandoned blankets, torn clothing, empty cans of tuna — littered the highways.
Three young Iraqi men on the side of a road outside the border town of Tovarnik, Croatia, said they had spent two excruciating days there. “It was crowded, there was no food, no transport and nowhere to go,” said one of them, Ibrahim Yusuf, 25, a construction worker from Baghdad, eating chocolate wafers in the shade of a walnut tree. He said he was considering returning to Iraq and asked a reporter for directions back to Belgrade, Serbia. Those who could afford to take a train, bus, van or taxi westward, toward the capital, Zagreb, or the border with Slovenia, did so; many others simply set out on foot.
The migrants have not only been trapped within national borders. They were also caught in mass confusion, evidenced by heightening tensions among neighboring nations in a volatile region, incoherent national policies and the continuing failure of greater Europe to resolve the crisis. On the side of a road outside the border town of Tovarnik, three young Iraqi men said they had spent two excruciating days there. “It was crowded, there was no food, no transport and nowhere to go,” said one of them, Ibrahim Yusuf, 25, a construction worker from Baghdad, eating chocolate wafers in the shade of a walnut tree. He said he was considering returning to Iraq and asked a reporter for directions back to Belgrade, Serbia.
On top of it all, Hungarian troops were laying a new razor-wire fence along Hungary’s border with Croatia, extending the barrier it erected along the border with Serbia. The migrants have not only been trapped within borders. They were also caught in mass confusion, evidenced by heightening tensions among neighboring nations in a volatile region, incoherent national policies and the continuing failure of greater Europe to resolve the crisis.
In only the most recent example of contradictory policy, some 1,000 migrants were taken by buses or trains to the Croatian-Hungarian border on Friday afternoon, where the authorities — for reasons that were not immediately clear — allowed them to pass through. Meanwhile, Hungarian troops were laying a new razor-wire fence along Hungary’s border with Croatia, extending the barrier it erected along the border with Serbia.
Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said Croatia was overwhelmed by the influx, and he lashed out at Hungary for what he said was a failure to live up to its obligations as a member of the European Union.Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said Croatia was overwhelmed by the influx, and he lashed out at Hungary for what he said was a failure to live up to its obligations as a member of the European Union.
Mr. Milanovic also implicitly criticized Germany for effectively extending an invitation to the migrants without having a comprehensive plan to get them to Germany.Mr. Milanovic also implicitly criticized Germany for effectively extending an invitation to the migrants without having a comprehensive plan to get them to Germany.
“Croatia has shown it has a heart,” he said at a news conference. “We also need to show we have a brain.”“Croatia has shown it has a heart,” he said at a news conference. “We also need to show we have a brain.”
Mr. Milanovic added: “A solution isn’t to leave these refugees in Croatia. Today we will start changing our methods. We cannot house these people. We won’t block entries, but we also won’t block exits.”Mr. Milanovic added: “A solution isn’t to leave these refugees in Croatia. Today we will start changing our methods. We cannot house these people. We won’t block entries, but we also won’t block exits.”
Addressing migrants, he said: “You are welcome in Croatia, and you can pass through Croatia. But go on. Not because we don’t like you, but because this is not your final destination.”Addressing migrants, he said: “You are welcome in Croatia, and you can pass through Croatia. But go on. Not because we don’t like you, but because this is not your final destination.”
The practical implications of his remarks were not clear. The nation closed seven of its eight border crossings with Serbia at 11 p.m. on Thursday, but 3,000 people have entered since then, according to the Croatian Interior Ministry. The practical implications of his remarks were not clear. The nation closed its border crossings with Serbia at 11 p.m. on Thursday, but thousands more people continued to enter. On the Croatian side of the border, police officers in vans were seeking to take the arrivals to reception centers.
On Friday, throngs continued to enter, walking across fields around Tovarnik, Croatia, and Sid, Serbia. On the Croatian side of the border, police officers in vans were seeking to take the arrivals to reception centers; from there, it was unclear whether they would be registered or expelled. Hungary’s foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, said the Croatians had only themselves to blame. “Instead of helping people, Croatia is encouraging masses and masses of people to commit a criminal offence — illegal crossing of the border is a criminal offense,” he said at a news conference in Belgrade.
Many of the migrants — about 30 busloads — had traveled roughly 300 miles through Serbia, from its southern border with Macedonia to its northern border with Croatia. In Presevo, in southern Serbia, posters in Arabic warned: “The Hungarian border is closed. Croatia is open.” Many of the migrants had traveled by bus roughly 300 miles through Serbia, from its southern border with Macedonia to its northern border with Croatia. In Presevo, in southern Serbia, posters in Arabic warned: “The Hungarian border is closed. Croatia is open.”
The influx left Croatia scrambling to create more processing centers, including using a military barracks in the town of Beli Manastir, about 100 miles from the border. The barracks, intended to house 200, was flooded by 8,000, said the town’s mayor, Ivan Dobos. They had arrived suddenly by bus and train, from the border towns of Tovarnik and Batina, he said.The influx left Croatia scrambling to create more processing centers, including using a military barracks in the town of Beli Manastir, about 100 miles from the border. The barracks, intended to house 200, was flooded by 8,000, said the town’s mayor, Ivan Dobos. They had arrived suddenly by bus and train, from the border towns of Tovarnik and Batina, he said.
The roads leading to Beli Manastir were strewn with the remnants of the migrants’ overnight stay. Cots provided by the Croatian military were propped against fences. In the town, migrants were lining up at banks, apparently looking to exchange money and possibly to pay their way to Slovenia. Some stopped taxis and vans to ask to be taken there. The roads leading to Beli Manastir were strewn with the remnants of the migrants’ overnight stay. Cots provided by the Croatian military were propped against fences. In the town, migrants were lining up at banks, apparently looking to exchange money and possibly to pay their way to Slovenia.
A Syrian man who gave his name as Anas, 38, said he hoped to reach the Netherlands, where he planned to send for his family in Damascus — his two young children and his wife, who is due to deliver their third child in 10 days.A Syrian man who gave his name as Anas, 38, said he hoped to reach the Netherlands, where he planned to send for his family in Damascus — his two young children and his wife, who is due to deliver their third child in 10 days.
He said that he did not want to squander his money on a smuggler, and that he was waiting for a bus to Zagreb, the Croatian capital.He said that he did not want to squander his money on a smuggler, and that he was waiting for a bus to Zagreb, the Croatian capital.
“If the Slovenian police want to catch me, it’s O.K.,” Anas said, sounding resigned and weary. “I have nothing to lose.” He added that he had found the lack of hospitality puzzling, given that the migrants just wanted to pass through: “Hungary, Slovenia, Austria — they know we don’t want to stay there.”“If the Slovenian police want to catch me, it’s O.K.,” Anas said, sounding resigned and weary. “I have nothing to lose.” He added that he had found the lack of hospitality puzzling, given that the migrants just wanted to pass through: “Hungary, Slovenia, Austria — they know we don’t want to stay there.”
The mixed messages from Croatia, which joined the European Union in 2013, highlighted how the countries of the former Yugoslavia — smaller and economically weaker than their richer and more populous Western counterparts — are ill equipped to deal with the surge of people who have suddenly turned up on their doorsteps.The mixed messages from Croatia, which joined the European Union in 2013, highlighted how the countries of the former Yugoslavia — smaller and economically weaker than their richer and more populous Western counterparts — are ill equipped to deal with the surge of people who have suddenly turned up on their doorsteps.
Slovenia, bracing for the migrants who are streaming through Croatia toward its borders, has set up six reception centers. At one of them, police vans delivered about 15 migrants every few minutes; the official number was 166 by noon Friday, but unofficial estimates placed it higher.Slovenia, bracing for the migrants who are streaming through Croatia toward its borders, has set up six reception centers. At one of them, police vans delivered about 15 migrants every few minutes; the official number was 166 by noon Friday, but unofficial estimates placed it higher.
Croatian police officers could be seen on Friday telling migrants who arrived by taxi to turn back. Other migrants tried to cross into Slovenia on foot, walking through meadows, fields and even wading through a river, the Sutla.Croatian police officers could be seen on Friday telling migrants who arrived by taxi to turn back. Other migrants tried to cross into Slovenia on foot, walking through meadows, fields and even wading through a river, the Sutla.
Because of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, the experience of mass outflows of people is part of the recent memory of people in this region. But most salaries in the countries of this region are relatively low, welfare states are stretched and the prospect of hosting large numbers of migrants threatens to spur a backlash.Because of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, the experience of mass outflows of people is part of the recent memory of people in this region. But most salaries in the countries of this region are relatively low, welfare states are stretched and the prospect of hosting large numbers of migrants threatens to spur a backlash.
The crisis has also dealt a heavy blow to European unity, as the Schengen area of borderless travel, long a cornerstone of European integration, has crumbled.The crisis has also dealt a heavy blow to European unity, as the Schengen area of borderless travel, long a cornerstone of European integration, has crumbled.
In Hungary, where riot police officers this week fired water cannons and tear gas to fend off migrants trying to breach a border gate, workers on Friday began laying razor wire along the country’s southern border with Croatia, extending by about 25 miles the 109 miles of razor wire it had already set up along its border with Serbia. The Hungarian government also has plans to reinforce the eastern border with Romania. In Hungary, where riot police officers this week fired water cannons and tear gas to fend off migrants trying to breach a border gate, workers on Friday began laying razor wire along the southern border with Croatia, extending by about 25 miles the 109 miles of razor wire it had already set up along its border with Serbia. The Hungarian government also plans to reinforce the eastern border with Romania.
On Friday, Hungary declared a state of crisis in four southern counties near its borders with Croatia and Slovenia. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the authorities had deployed 600 soldiers and 200 police officers there, and that an additional 1,200 troops and 600 officers would be sent to the area. On Friday, Hungary declared a state of crisis in four southern counties near its borders with Croatia and Slovenia. More than 2,500 soldiers and police officers were to arrive at the border with Croatia by the end of this week.
“There is no dune, no molehill for anyone to hide behind in the hope of entering Hungarian territory illegally,” Mr. Orban said. “We will protect Hungary’s border.” “There is no dune, no molehill for anyone to hide behind in the hope of entering Hungarian territory illegally,” Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. “We will protect Hungary’s border.”
The authorities said that nearly 500 migrants had been detained on Hungary’s border with Croatia.
The United Nations and the European Union have criticized Hungary for erecting barriers to keep out migrants, most of whom are hoping to reach countries like Germany and Sweden. But Hungary has retorted that none of these people have a right to apply for asylum in Hungary, as they are coming from so-called safe countries, like Serbia, and not directly from their homes in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere.The United Nations and the European Union have criticized Hungary for erecting barriers to keep out migrants, most of whom are hoping to reach countries like Germany and Sweden. But Hungary has retorted that none of these people have a right to apply for asylum in Hungary, as they are coming from so-called safe countries, like Serbia, and not directly from their homes in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere.
Further south, more than 4,000 people crossed into Macedonia from Greece on Thursday, the authorities said. In Edirne, Turkey, migrants seeking to enter Greece were awaiting word from the Turkish capital, Ankara, about whether they would be allowed to walk over the border. In Slovenia, there were some calls to let the migrants enter. “Slovenia should help the refugees continue their way towards the borth as soon as possible,” said one member of Parliament, Matej Tonin.
That did not appear to be the dominant view, however. Austria’s interior minister, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, met with her Slovenian counterpart, Vesna Gyorkos Znidar, on Friday and said Austria would help Slovenia secure its borders. The two countries are part of the so-called Schengen zone, in which travel without passports has generally been permitted. (Croatia is not yet a part of the Schengen zone.)
“Europe must focus on controlling its outer borders,” Ms. Mikl-Leitner said. “The decision over whether we will be able to maintain an orderly situation is made at the outer European border.”
Elsewhere in Europe, thousands of migrants crossed into Macedonia from Greece, while in Edirne, Turkey, migrants awaited word from the authorities in the Turkish capital, Ankara, about whether they would be allowed to walk over the border into Greece. Hundreds of migrants continued to make their way by boat across the Aegean Sea to the Greek island of Lesbos, which has become a gateway to an uncertain future in Europe.