Half a million migrants enter Croatia

(Vatican Radio)  Croatia says more than half a million asylum seekers have entered the country since mid-September on their way to Western Europe. The announcement came while the Czech Republic said it would provide asylum to more than 150 Christians from Iraq.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

Police said at least 501,987 people crossed into Croatia since Hungary closed its border with Serbia. That move in September forced refugees to continue their long journey through Croatia. However authorities have confirmed that all asylum seekers moved towards the wealthy nations of the European Union, primarily to Germany or Sweden. 

Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was re-elected as the ruling Fidesz party's leader and seeks re-election in 2018, has defended his decision to erect an anti-migration fence along the border with Serbia. He told his party supporters that  EU leaders rejecting his call to keep migrants out of the bloc were in his words "weak, unsure and powerless."

Orbán also said the "continent looks like a battlefield and the worse is yet to come" adding that "millions or tens of millions" migrants may still enter Europe. 

Merkel defends policy

Yet in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel defended her decision to allow in people from wartorn nations, such as Syria, calling it a "humanitarian imperative" and part of Germany's identity to let in migrants who had piled up in less welcoming Hungary.         

However Merkel, who was just elected as Time magazine's 'Person Of the Year' also addressed  concerns from within her party about an influx this year alone of one million refugees. "“We want to and we will noticeably reduce the number of refugees because it’s in everyone’s interest,” Merkel said. "“The spirit with which we need to tackle the refugee crisis: we have achieved so much, we will continue to make this work.. also because the essence of the Christian Democrats is to show how we deal with difficult situations,” she added. 

Eastern European countries have come under pressure to help more refugees. The Czech Republic says however it wants to provide asylum to 153 Iraqi Christians because they are threatened by extremists. It comes shortly after neighboring Slovakia said it would provide asylum to 25 Christian families from Iraq.

The countries along the Balkan migrant corridor in the past weeks have been allowing in only refugees from war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. That has slowed down the movement of people and angered asylum-seekers from Iran or African nations.

Migrants usually cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey into Greece and then move on to Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia before reaching Austria. All have continued their journey toward the wealthy nations of the European Union, primarily Germany or Sweden.

Angela Merkel was speaking at the congress for her Christian Democrats party in response to concerns from within her party about an influx this year alone of one million refugees.

“The spirit with which we need to tackle the refugee crisis: we have achieved so much, we will continue to make this work.. also because the essence of the Christian Democrats is to show how we deal with difficult situations,” Merkel said.

Despite being widely praised for her bold response to the crisis, Merkel faces growing opposition to her open-door policy, “We want to and we will noticeably reduce the number of refugees because it’s in everyone’s interest,” added Merkel.

Police said Monday that 501,987 people have entered Croatia since Hungary closed its border with Serbia. That move in september forced migrants north redirecting the flow of refugees to Croatia. All have continued their journey toward the wealthy nations of the European Union, primarily Germany or Sweden. 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lashed out at EU leaders who reject his call to keep migrants out of the bloc, which he described as "weak, unsure and powerless."

Orban told delegates at the ruling party Fidesz' congress on Sunday that the "continent looks like a battlefield and the worse is yet to come. How many more will hit the road, heading for Europe? I believe it's millions, or tens of millions."