The United Nations said on Friday it could see no easing of the flow of refugees into Europe, with 8,000 arrivals daily, and that problems now facing governments may turn out to be only “the tip of the iceberg”.
Hungary, which lies in the path of the largest migration wave Europe has seen since World War-II, said it was seeking support to halt an influx from Croatia after sealing its border with Serbia by building a 3.5-metre-high steel fence.
Amin Awad, regional refugee coordinator for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, told journalists in Geneva the body’s past warnings on the scale of the problem had not been taken seriously. “I don’t see it abating, I don’t see it stopping. If anything, it gives an indication perhaps that this is the tip of the iceberg.”
Right-wing Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said in Vienna that after construction of a steel fence to stop refugees entering from Serbia, migrants were now entering via Greece and the Balkans from Croatia. That border must now also be secured. The flow will continue, Orban said, adding that the main question was how it could be stopped on the Croatian border. For now, thousands of migrants arriving on the Croatian-Hungarian border are shipped every day to the Austrian border.
He said Hungary would make a decision about sealing off its border with Croatia after consultations to gather support for the move.
Hungary, which lies in the path of the largest migration wave Europe has seen since World War-II, said it was seeking support to halt an influx from Croatia after sealing its border with Serbia by building a 3.5-metre-high steel fence.
Amin Awad, regional refugee coordinator for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, told journalists in Geneva the body’s past warnings on the scale of the problem had not been taken seriously. “I don’t see it abating, I don’t see it stopping. If anything, it gives an indication perhaps that this is the tip of the iceberg.”
Right-wing Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said in Vienna that after construction of a steel fence to stop refugees entering from Serbia, migrants were now entering via Greece and the Balkans from Croatia. That border must now also be secured. The flow will continue, Orban said, adding that the main question was how it could be stopped on the Croatian border. For now, thousands of migrants arriving on the Croatian-Hungarian border are shipped every day to the Austrian border.
He said Hungary would make a decision about sealing off its border with Croatia after consultations to gather support for the move.
