Afghan Refugees, Migrants Refused Entry at European Borders
Migrants, especially Afghan refugees, seeking asylum inside Europe's borders are being turned away.
European countries are trying to stop the influx of refugees and migrants coming from war-torn countries like Syria and those coming from the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa.
In fact, a large number of refugees are expected to come from the Middle East in the next couple of weeks.
Countries like Croatia and Slovenia have slowly restricted passage and may be joined by Belgium and France this week. Greece along with Austria filed an official protest, which introduced restrictions against refugees entering their countries. It is thought to be what set other countries to put caps on their borders as well.
Countries like Austria, Macedonia and Serbia have barred their doors to refugees, particularly Afghans, which make up a third of all migrants. Middle Easterners without travel documents like passport are also being turned away which contribute to the increasing number of people stuck in the borders.
Police authorities in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Austria and Macedonia are only taking in migrants from war zone countries but said that Afghans aren't qualified to be let in.
"[P]eople are being sent back and forth between borders with no clear information about their rights or what will happen tomorrow," Stephanie Moissaing, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) head of Mission in Serbia said. "By experience, we know they will be pushed towards smuggling networks and unsafe routes, exposed to the risk of abuse and violence."
Many people that are stranded at the border may find unsafe ways to get in. They may resort to smuggling, separating from their families and any other situation that may cause them harm.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) reacted and are worried by the reports of unqualified people being sent back.
"This is yet another example of arbitrary, unilateral decisions by individual states threatening to cause serious humanitarian consequences for desperate refugees fleeing from war and persecution," the IRC said. "Nationality must not determine eligibility for refugee status. People from all nationalities must be granted their right to a fair and thorough status determination procedure based on their individual circumstances."
The United Nations (UN) criticized the restriction of refugees and called for unity in Europe. The agency called out countries with restrictive measures to cite clear admission criteria for those who may wish to pass.
"With every passing week, it appears some European countries are focusing on keeping refugees and migrants out more than on responsibly managing the flow and working on common solutions," the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said.
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