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UN refugee agency expresses concern over Greece-Balkans border crossing

Xinhua, November 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN refugee agency UNHCR on Tuesday warned a fresh humanitarian situation is developing at border crossings from Greece into the Balkans, where new and uncoordinated restrictions have led scores of people to protest by going on hunger strike.

At the borders between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), and between FYROM and Serbia, nationals of Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq are being allowed to cross. But nationals of other countries are being stopped, leaving about 1,000 people stuck at the main entry point into FYROM from Greece.

On November 20, UNHCR, along with the International Organization for Migration and UNICEF expressed concern in a joint statement at the risks stemming from the new restrictions, which chiefly involve people being profiled on the basis of their alleged nationalities.

According to UNHCR, with frustrations growing, protests have erupted among some 200 people -- mainly Iranians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. Some 60 people are on hunger strike, and 11 individuals are reported to have stitched up their mouths.

"The negative consequences of these actions are already becoming clear as people become backed up in countries along the route and without proper solution to their situations," UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told a media briefing in Geneva.

Edwards cautioned that with refugees and migrants expected to continue arriving in Europe via Greece over the winter and into 2016, it is imperative that the situation be managed in such a way as to minimize the risks of new problems being created.

In response, UNHCR has assisted about 150 people to return voluntarily over the past 48 hours to Athens where they are being advised they can seek asylum.

"All people have the right to seek asylum, irrespective of their nationality and to have their individual cases heard. Proper information needs to be provided to people affected by decisions at border points, and proper counseling needs to be available," Edwards noted. Endit