Hungary's Prime Minister threatens to arrest arriving migrants

(Vatican Radio)  Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has warned that his police forces will take tougher action from next week against a wave of migrants fleeing war and poverty who he says have rebelled against authorities, seized railway stations, and refuse to be registered. The warning came as video footage emerged Friday showing how refugees are being thrown bags of food at a Hungarian camp near the border with Serbia.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

Men, women, and children standing between iron fences can be seen being pushed and jostled as they try to catch at least some of plastic-wrapped sandwiches. The sandwiches are thrown into the desperate crowds by helmet-clad police from behind a line of fellow officers, some wearing surgical masks, amid alleged fears these people carry contagious diseases.

An Austrian woman who shot this disturbing video said the refugees were being treated like "animals".  Advocacy group Human Rights Watch people were being held like "cattle”. Hungary says it is investigating the scenes at the camp in the border village of Röszke.

But Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán warned Friday that migrants fleeing war and poverty can expect harsh treatment if they enter the country illegally.

Hungarian Prisoners

Hungarian prisoners and soldiers rushing to complete a massive fence by Tuesday, which is intended to seal Hungary off from Serbia.  Orban made clear that from September 15 migrants who break through the fence can be detained. Under new legislation they can face up to four years imprisonment for entering the country illegally.

Many refugees have arrived in Budapest at the Keleti or East railway station. Tensions are rising as regular direct train services between Budapest and Vienna have been halted with the Austrian railway operator citing overcrowding.

Christian aid worker Mark Landerholm told Vatican Radio that he and several churches are supporting stranded families at the Keleti station. "We had a baby washing, in a tent. The water here available to them is only cold. That's why we provided hot water. The taps were washed so they were clean for the next baby. So this was a simple way of helping them to feel clean, more at home and feel more loved," he said.

Nearly 180,000 migrants have crossed into Hungary from Serbia so far this year. Most try to avoid being registered in Hungary for fear of being stranded there or returned to this country later on, encouraged by a temporary agreement by Germany and Austria to accept refugees.