The refugee crisis gets more complex

AFTER Hungary closed its borders with Serbia in order to stop the mass migration of refugees into central Europe, many made the diversion to exit via Croatia, which in turn has now closed seven of its eight border crossings after logging 13,000 entries in just a few days.

Whilst some of these refugees are being catered for in hastily converted refugee centres, others are having to survive in the streets, whilst a few lucky refugees made it to Slovenia by train, before that government suspended rail connections with Croatia. Many more are likely to walk to Slovenia which is part of the Schengen free movement agreement whereas Croatia and Serbia are not.

On September 17, the Croatian minister of the interior Ranko Ostojic released a statement for refugees saying “Don’t come here any more. Stay in refugee centres in Serbia and Macedonia and Greece. This is not the road to Europe. Buses can’t take you there. It’s a lie.”

With Germany issuing conflicting statements concerning willingness to accept refugees and together with Austria and Slovakia imposing selected border checks despite their Schengen membership, things continue to be confused.