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| Europe |
| Migrants finding it harder to migrate to Europe |
| 2016-01-13 |
| Tighter Border Checks Leave Migrants Trapped in Greece [AnNahar] For a few incredible months, the prospect of a better life in Europe seemed within grasp, attracting a wave of more than 1 million migrants from the war-torn, poverty-stricken Middle East and Africa. To get there, they risked their lives at sea and parted with fortunes. But a tightening of border controls closer to the promised lands of Germany and Sweden has left thousands trapped and destitute in the last place most want to be — financially wrecked Greece. But in late November the Balkan gateways started to close, and Greek officials fear they could be completely shut in coming months. Now, only Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis are deemed refugees and let through, with all others — about 12,000 of the 103,000 who entered Greece in December — rejected as economic migrants. All now face two legal options: To seek asylum in Greece — which has 25 percent unemployment and a crumbling welfare system — or volunteer for repatriation. Greek authorities have recorded an increase in both since Macedonia tightened controls. Daniel Esdras, IOM office head in Greece, sees a steep increase in voluntary repatriations, which the IOM organizes. About 800 people registered in December and 260 have been sent home. "It's one thing to return in handcuffs ... and quite another to go as a normal passenger with some money in your pocket, because we give them each 400 euros ($435)," Esdras said. Deportation awaits those who don't qualify for asylum and reject repatriation — with several hundred currently interned in Greece. About 20,000 were repatriated or deported last year. But most were Albanians, and only one in 10 from the Middle East and Africa. Greek officials say that is largely because some countries resist deportations. "We have big difficulties with the returns to Pakistan," Mouzalas, the migration minister, said. "If 3,000 people come (from Turkey) every day and (Turkey) accepts 150 returns every 20 days, you understand the problem cannot be solved." Trapped migrants face a third, illegal choice — paying to be smuggled into Macedonia. That is what happened before late June and Macedonian police say it is on the rise again since late November, while almost 10 percent of migrants trying to enter legally daily use fake Syrian documents. Smugglers ask for 1,500-3,000 euros ($1,630-3,260) to take someone into Macedonia," said Daher, the Lebanese migrant in Elaionas. "I don't have that money. I don't know what we will do now." Germany Admits Turning Away more Migrants at Austrian Border [AnNahar] Germany Tuesday admitted that it was refusing entry to an increasing number of migrants seeking to cross over from Austria, but said it was not a result of any policy changes. The spokesman explained that migrants seeking entry are asked for their travel documents and those without papers are asked if they intended to make asylum applications in Germany. Those seeking to travel on to Sweden for instance, or who have already filed for asylum in Austria would not be granted entry. Migrants entering Germany with the intention of finding employment without prior permits are also turned away, he added. The number of refused entries is still dwarfed by that of those allowed to enter Germany, with police saying that daily figures ranged from 290 to 3,050 in the first few days of January. Austrian authorities had said Monday that Germany was now turning away 200 migrants daily since the start of the year, from around 60 in December. Those refused entry are mostly Afghans as well as Moroccans and Algerians who did not want to apply for asylum in Germany but in other countries, notably Scandinavia. Austria is a major transit country for the hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees seeking to enter the European Union, mostly via Upper Austria state at a rate currently of 1,000-2,000 per day. Last week, Sweden, a favored destination for many of the migrants, sought to stem the flow by imposing controls on travelers from Denmark. Denmark in turn introduced spot checks on arrivals from Germany. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #3 Well, at least the weather is decent. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2016-01-13 15:22 |
| #2 Maybe "B" but my concern is in it becoming an America problem thanks to the Champ. |
| Posted by: Warthog 2016-01-13 13:05 |
| #1 Sounds like a Greek problem. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2016-01-13 08:12 |