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Thousands of refugees, migrants stranded across Greece Balkan border controls leave thousands stranded in Greece
(about 2 hours later)
THESSALONIKI, Greece — Thousands of refugees and migrants are stranded across Greece, including hundreds who have been waiting in buses along the country’s main north-south highway for roughly two days, after Macedonia severely restricted the number of people it is allowing to cross and continue their northward journey toward more prosperous European countries. THESSALONIKI, Greece — Some 400 migrants from Syria and Iraq demanded to leave a transit camp in northern Greece Thursday and have begun a 70-kilometer (45-mile) trek walking to the country’s border with Macedonia.
Hundreds more continued to arrive on the Greek mainland aboard ferries from the eastern Aegean islands, which they reached in dinghies from the Turkish coast. Police said the migrants, mostly from Syria, walked out of the newly built camp near Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, and were on a highway near the city.
Refugees and migrants arriving at the main port of Piraeus would usually take buses or trains straight to Idomeni on the northern border. But the Macedonian clampdown has led to massive crowds on the border, with about 2,800 people there Thursday and only 100 allowed to cross in the morning. It was yet another sign of trouble in Greece as it scrambles to cope with border restrictions imposed recently by Austria and Balkan countries — while some 4,000 migrants and refugees continue to arrive on Greek territory daily.
Authorities said 40 buses were stopped at various points along the main highway leading north from Athens. About 200 people who had been stuck overnight on buses in central Greece, frustrated with the lack of progress, set off on foot along the highway. The group included many young children as well as at least one woman in a wheelchair. The Greek government underlined its annoyance Thursday by recalling its ambassador to Austria for consultations — “in order to safeguard friendly relations” between the two states, said Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.
Police attempted to stop them from walking along the highway, leading them to stage a sit-in. In an effort to resolve the situation, police in the area said buses would arrive to take them to Idomeni. Greece does not detain people entering the country illegally if they are from Syria, Iraq and several other countries considered eligible for asylum.
Refugees and migrants arriving at the mainland port of Piraeus, near Athens, would usually take buses or trains straight to Idomeni on the border with Macedonia.
But the clampdown has led to massive crowds on the border: about 2,800 people were there Thursday and only 100 were allowed to cross in the morning.
Authorities said 40 buses were stopped at various points along the country’s main 500-kilometer (310-mile) highway leading north from Athens. Traffic has also been slowed by tractor blockades by farmers protesting bailout measures.
“It took me 20 hours to get here. The police kept stopping us, but I couldn’t wait.” said 23-year-old Syrian university student Walaa Jbara, speaking near the border and clutching his smartphone.
“I’m checking the news on Facebook, and I know the Macedonians are not letting people through.”
Greece as well as international aid agencies have strongly criticized Austria and Balkan counties for the new transit rules.
“All it will do is exacerbate an already grave humanitarian crisis and put the most vulnerable at increased risk,” said Kirk Day of the New York-based International Rescue Committee.
Nadica V’ckova, a spokeswomen for Macedonia’s crisis management department, told the AP that the country was restricting entry of migrants to match the number leaving the country.
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Testorides reported from Skopje, Macedonia. Elena Becatoros and Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.