2015-10-20 11:20:00

Croatia allows thousands of refugees to enter as Slovenia mobilizes army


(Vatican Radio) Croatia has allowed thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty to cross into its territory after they were stranded for days at the Serbian-Croatian border. However their next destination, Slovenia, warned Tuesday that it would send the army to control borders.  

Listen to Stefan Bos’ report:

Croatia's decision came amid growing pressure on the authorities to clear a bottleneck that had been building up in the Balkans after Hungary closed its borders to refugees and many people had to be diverted.  

In pouring rain, struggling in ankle deep mud, refugees had been demanding entry into Croatia shouting "Open the border".

"Just one thing. Please open the door", shouted a man with a child in his arm. "If you have a heart, please open...we are dying here in the open air," he said.

Suddenly without prior announcement thousands of desperate people, including many women with babies and even someone in a wheelchair could enter. Some had been waiting for at least two days in the open air or in soaked tents. "The children need medical help, they have medical problems. There are lots of old people and women," a man said.    

AIDWORKERS CONCERNED

The decision by Croatian authorities to allow him and others to continue their journey came as a relief to aidworkers, including doctor Ramiz Momeni. "Its him and me. There are just two doctors here. But there are at least 2,500 people now here."

Croatia had accused neighboring Slovenia of causing troubles across the Balkans by allowing just 2,500 people per day to enter that country. Yet Slovenian Interior Ministry official Bostjan Sefic defended that decision

"Croatia asked us to accept 5,000 migrants per day, but Austria told us they can accept at maximum 1,500," Sefic said. However, Slovenia "cannot accept unlimited numbers of migrants if we know that they cannot continue their journey".  Otherwise, the official added, "we would receive 35,000 migrants within 10 days and that's unacceptable to us."     

And on Tuesday, Slovenia's parliament was expected to approve changes to its laws later to enable the army to help police guard the border.

ENFORCING BORDER

The government had proposed amendments to its Law on Defence overnight, after 8,000 migrants crossed in Slovenian territory on Monday. Only 2,000 of them passed into Austria, officials said.  

"This is not about enforcing an extraordinary condition, it is about strengthening control on the border," Prime Minister Miro Cerar told the national radio Radio Slovenia.

 Refugees have complained that Slovenian police used tear gas in some cases to halt the crowds.

 The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR has also accused Hungary, as the current chaos began after it sealed off its borders with Croatia this weekend to refugees and earlier with Serbia.

Hungary's government has defended its decision saying it is protecting Europe against an "uncontrolled wave of migrants".








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.