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| Europe | |
| Four Balkan states shut their borders to economic migrants, Sweden runs out of room | |
| 2015-11-20 | |
| [Hurriyet] Four states along Europe's Balkan refugee corridor shut their borders on Nov. 19 to those not coming from war-torn countries such as Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq, leaving thousands of others seeking a better life in Europe stranded at border crossings. The overnight decision was exactly the domino effect that both asylum-seekers and European nations had feared would happen given the record number of people fleeing to Europe this year and new fears after the deadly Gay Paree attacks of possible gunnies coming in with refugees. The U.N. refugee agency says three Balkan countries shut their borders overnight to migrants from nations that are not directly engulfed in war. Macedonia was not allowing in from Greece people from Morocco, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Liberia, Congo or Pakistain, the UNHCR spokeswoman in Serbia, Melita Sunjic, said on Nov. 19. Slovenia also said it has closed its border for the so-called economic migrants, while the Slovenian Defense Ministry said it planned to call up about 200 of a total of 914 army reservists to help control the influx. On the Serbian border with Macedonia, the Serbs were only letting in migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. And on the Croatia-Serbia border, Croats were only accepting people from those three countries plus Paleostine, she said. Serbia has turned back to Macedonia some 200 migrants and Macedonia has not let them in, she said. "So they are stuck on a no man's land," she told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named. Croatia's Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said the country has refused to take back 162 people, who were rejected by neighboring Slovenia as economic migrants. Ostojic said on Nov. 19 that Croatia also will no longer allow in migrants from war-free countries who wish to pass through on their way toward Western Europe. He says Croatia has informed Serbia and Macedonia down the so-called migrant route, that "it is now obvious they will not be able to pass." In the Greek border area of Idomeni, police said the border has essentially been shut down to all since about 8 a.m. on Nov. 19 after roughly 300 people, mostly from Iran, gathered at the crossing seeking to also be allowed through. A further 2,500 people are waiting at a camp nearby that provides temporary shelter for those heading north through the Balkans. The partial closure of the borders could trigger huge pileups of desperate people along the Balkan corridor that has seen hundreds of thousands of people cross as they head to wealthy EU states, mostly Germany. Although Syrians are the biggest group among the asylum-seekers, tens of thousands of people fleeing poverty, such as Paks, Bangladeshis or Sri Lankans, have also joined the surge.
"We have to protect our country. That is why we have applied reciprocal measures toward the people Slovenia and Croatia have no room for," Vulin said. Meanwhile, ...back at the cheese factory, there was only one thought in the mouse's mind: I can do this! I can do this!Then the trap sprung... EU interior ministers are to agree on Nov. 20 to tighten checks at the external borders of the passport-free Schengen area to boost security after the attacks in Gay Paree that killed 129 people, a draft document seen by Rooters shows. Ministers will agree to "implement immediately the necessary systematic and coordinated checks at external borders, including on individuals enjoying the right of free movement," the draft conclusions of their meeting says. Sweden says can no longer house all refugees arriving [AlAhram] Sweden, a favourite destination for refugees flooding into Europe, can no longer house all those arriving and many will have to find their own accommodation, the country's migration agency said on Thursday. Sweden has already imposed temporary border controls in response to the record influx of refugees, while authorities plan to shelter thousands of people in heated tents as well as venues such as ski resorts and a theme park. But now even these options have run out. "We have entered a new phase where the migration agency no longer can provide housing for all. We don't have enough beds," its operating officer Michael Ribbenvik said in a statement. The agency said it would continue to search for additional housing and give priority to families with children. Sweden has taken in more asylum seekers per capita than any other European country over the last few years. Up to 190,000 refugees are expected to arrive this year, a record for the wealthy Nordic nation of 10 million people. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has called the situation unsustainable Almost 10,000 refugees have applied for asylum in the last seven days alone and close to 140,000 have arrived so far this year. | |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #5 Just boot out some native swedish... |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2015-11-20 09:47 |
| #4 But Steve, these are not really refugees. They are migrants. Most will not return once the war ends (if it ever does) |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2015-11-20 09:04 |
| #3 I keep saying it: the best place to house Syrian refugees is Syria. The best place to house Libyan refugees is Libya. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2015-11-20 08:25 |
| #2 ...leaving thousands of others seeking a better life in Europe stranded at border crossings. Maybe, you know, if you instead stayed put and asked those Euros to come in a run things, you could save yourself a lot of trouble. See - Monty Python What Have the Romans Ever Done for US? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2015-11-20 07:53 |
| #1 Sweden, a favourite destination for refugees flooding into Europe, can no longer house all those arriving The dhummis are just being lazy & selfish, as usual. They need a lesson! |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2015-11-20 04:29 |