Balkan countries implement tighter border restrictions

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 19.11.15
Publication Date 19/11/2015
Content Type

The UN refugee agency warned on the 24 November 2015 that a fresh humanitarian situation was developing at border crossings from Greece into the Balkans, where new and uncoordinated restrictions have led scores of people to protest by going on hunger strike and several to sew their mouths shut.

Media reported on 19 November 2015 that Serbia, FYR Macedonia and Croatia had started restricting access to migrants on the Balkan route to from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The UN's refugee agency highlighted that these countries had now closed their borders to economic migrants, or in general to anyone coming from countries not engulfed in wars. Concerns grew over the humanitarian situation of migrants and refugees in the region, as winter approached.

Macedonian police used stun grenades and teargas on the 28 November 2015 to hold back migrants as work began on a new fence on the border with Greece. Tensions had been building over new entry restrictions for those not traveling from conflict 'hotspots'.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://dw.com/p/1H8q8
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Slovenia erects fence to 'channel' migrants http://www.europeansources.info/record/slovenia-erects-fence-to-channel-migrants/
ESO: Background information: Meeting on the Western Balkans Migration Route: Leaders Agree on 17-point plan of action http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-meeting-on-the-western-balkans-migration-route-leaders-agree-on-17-point-plan-of-action/
ESO: Background information: Croatia-Serbia border tensions escalate http://www.europeansources.info/record/croatia-serbia-border-tensions-escalate/
The Guardian, 19.11.15: Aid groups say Balkan states blocking refugees based on nationality http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/19/balkan-countries-block-refugees-nationality-aid-groups
Balkan Insight, 20.11.15: Refugees Fear Being Trapped in Balkans http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/refugees-fear-being-trapped-in-balkans-11-19-2015
EUObserver, 20.11.15: Balkan countries close borders to 'economic migrants' https://euobserver.com/migration/131192
EurActiv, 23.11.15: Conditions worsen for refugees stranded at Balkan borders http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/conditions-worsen-migrants-stranded-balkan-borders-319731
EUObserver, 23.11.15: Fears over humanitarian situation of migrants in Balkans https://euobserver.com/migration/131218
EurActiv, 25.11.15: UN decries stopping refugees at borders http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/un-decries-stopping-refugees-borders-319802
Deutsche Welle, 24.11.15: UN's Ban Ki-Moon decries Balkan refugee restrictions http://dw.com/p/1HC4D
UNHCR: News Stories, 24.11.15: UNHCR flags problems at crossings from Greece to the Balkans http://www.unhcr.org/5654824b6.html
Deutsche Welle, 28.11.15: Clashes break out at new Macedonia migrant fence http://dw.com/p/1HE6q
BBC News, 28.11.15: Migrant crisis: Clashes as Macedonia erects fence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34954127
Politico, 28.11.15: Macedonia builds fence on Greek border to control refugees http://www.politico.eu/article/macedonia-building-fence-greece-border-refugees-asylum-migration/

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