Migrant Backlog Builds up at Greece’s Border with Macedonia  

An aerial view taken from a drone of migrants queuing to pass the Greek-Macedonian border. Photo EPA/BGNES

Up to 10,000 migrants and refugees were stuck on Greece’s border with Macedonia on Tuesday, waiting to be allowed to continue their journey to western European countries, in which they want to seek asylum, newswires reported.

On Monday, Macedonia allowed only 30 refugees to pass, according to The Associated Press. On Tuesday, however, border police has let no one in, citing a similar policy by Serbia.

Up to 10,000 people, mostly Syrian and Iraqi refugees, were waiting at Greece’s Idomeni border crossing in deteriorating conditions, according to Greek police estimates.

The backlog of migrants in Greece has built up over the past 10 days after several European nations, led by Austria, capped the number of migrants they would take in.

EU members Slovenia and Croatia, as well as non-EU Macedonia and Serbia announced last week that they would limit the number of asylum seekers allowed to enter their territory to 580 a day.

"These unilateral actions have infuriated Greece and threatened to damage the unity of the 28-nation European Union," according to the newswire.

Macedonian police on Monday used tear gas and stun grenades to push back migrants, who tried to break through a barbed wire fence from Greece.

 

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