Thousands of migrants have made their way through no man’s land from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia into Serbia. Most have fled conflict
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Thousands of migrants have made their way through no man’s land from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia into Serbia.
Most have fled conflict and upheaval in Syria and Iraq.
Many hope to travel through Serbia into EU member state Hungary. Once there, they can travel freely across the many of Europe’s internal borders.
The Western Balkan migrant route to the EU pic.twitter.com/lUVfZukWiW
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) August 24, 2015
“I’m expecting just to cross, I just want to cross to continue my journey, just want to cross,” said Ahmed, who travelled from Syria. “My final destination is Germany, hopefully,” he added.
Despite Hungary building a border fence to stem the flow, that is where they are headed. It is a gateway to Germany, Sweden and other countries through Europe’s visa-free Schengen zone.
And so trip continues – refugees and migrants crowd parts of the #Serbian town of Presevo – waiting for rides north pic.twitter.com/hYqIeH2i5p
— Julián Miglierini (@julianmig) August 24, 2015
A makeshift reception centre in the southern Serbian town of Presevo has seen more than 7,000 people since Saturday.
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said many had spent three desperate days on Greece’s northern border before continuing.
The Presevo centre will give them medical aid, food, and papers to legalise their increasingly desperate journey deep into Europe.