BERKASOVO, Serbia (AP) — Croatia opened its border with Serbia for migrants on Monday, letting in thousands who have been stranded for nearly two days and partially clearing the human bottleneck that has been building up in the West Balkans.
The humanitarian crisis has been growing since Saturday, when Hungary closed its border with Croatia, creating a backlog of migrants in the region.
UNHCR spokeswoman Melita Sunjic, who is on the Serbia-Croatia border, said that "without any announcement, the borders opened. When the borders opened, everybody rushed" over.
"The last person to go was a young boy without a leg, and we helped him cross in a wheelchair," Sunjic said.
There were between 2,000 and 3,000 migrants stuck on the border in mud and rain when the gates were opened.
An empty field littered with some of the migrants' belongings showed that they were desperate to get on the move again. Stuffed toys, a milk bottle, a child's rubber boot, crayons scattered in the mud and soaked blankets were among the items left behind.
The road leading from Serbia into Croatia testified to the treacherous conditions the migrants have endured since Croatian police stalled the flow here. Ankle-deep mud is everywhere, and there were pools of water inside the tents next to blankets where migrants were sitting hoping for some cover.
Cleaners went in after the migrants left, preparing the site for the next wave of asylum seekers expected to arrive soon.
Already, dozens were seen walking up the road, some just wearing sandals and slippers with no socks and carrying children on their backs to avoid the mud. The rain has briefly stopped, but the clouds were still hanging low.
Earlier, Croatia sent at least two trains and several buses filled with people fleeing war and poverty north to the border with Slovenia, where officials accused the Croats of breaking previous agreements to limit such transfers to 2,500 people a day.
Croatian officials insisted no such binding deal could be enforced because they lacked legal powers to confine travelers to Croat emergency shelters.
Sunjic earlier told The Associated Press that UNHCR estimates there are more than 10,000 migrants in Serbia — which represents more than double the daily average in the past month.
___
Associated Press reporters Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, Ali Zerdin in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Radul Radovanovic, Sabina Niksic and Ivana Bzganovic on the Croatia-Serbia border contributed to this report.
I don't really know what I think about this. It makes me feel both happy and sad. First of all I am in disbelief of the conditions "Croatia opened its border with Serbia for migrants on Monday, letting in thousands who have been stranded for nearly two days" (Stojanovic). It is crazy to think that thousands of people where left stranded in the rain and mud for two days, That is heartbreaking. But, at the same time is puts a smile on my face to know that something was eventually done to help these people and they are now in better conditions then they once where.
ReplyDelete-Zach Potter Per 5
"'The last person to go was a young boy without a leg, and we helped him cross in a wheelchair,' Sunjic said." (Associated Press). I think that it's good that they opened up there borders. There were so many immigrants that risked their life to leave. Everyone deserves an enjoyable life, so why can't they? I know immigration is a huge issue but I think that it's nice to give these people an opportunity to get a better life.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was good that they opened the borders because a lot of migrants risked their lives crossing from Croatia to Serbia. They have been stranded for two days and I'm glad that all these immigrants are now in better condition. Their were tens of thousands of migrants that were left stranded. I'm sad that they were stranded for two days but happy they can go back to their regular lives. Brandon Marshall period 4
ReplyDeleteI think that it was a good idea for Croatia to open its borders to migrants. Many people were risking thier lives here just to get into Croatia or pass through it. Also that "the last person to go was a young boy without a leg and we helped him cross in a wheelchair" (Assoiciated Press). People that are in the same situation as people having a harder time than they are bring out the best in their personality. It takes a kind person to do that. I hope this has a influence on other countries to let in immigrants.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a good decision that Croatia opened their borders to the migrants. All of the migrants kicked out and having no where to go since Hungary closed their borders to them. What really got to me the most is knowing that the last person that got through the borders was a boy with only just one leg. They all were very strong out there. I believe it can teach us all that no matter what we should always have hope and stay strong.
ReplyDeleteKatrina Ayala p.1
I think it was a good decision that Croatia opened their borders to the migrants. Croatia should because Hungary closed there borders and didn't let anyone in. They didn't want any migrants coming into there country. Croatia should let everyone in because there are little kids with either one leg or one arm or one eye. You can't just let little kids survive on there own. they are little kids. they shouldn't be left on their own. Help everyone. Jake vasquez period 1
ReplyDeleteCroatia's decision to open their borders is an important signal to all other european countries. It is at the time that more countries open their borders for more refugees. That "there were between 2,000 and 3,000 migrants stuck on the border in mud and rain when the gates were opened", is just disgraceful (Associated Press reporters). We have to make some big changes in our economies to make poor countries, especially in Africa, more competitive viable. If we keep exporting our cheap, subsidized products to poor countries and making them dependent of us, there will be more and more refugees coming to us. Problems that we only heard of in the TV so far, are now reality in european countries. Changed have to be made now, but it will be a tight squeeze. Bruno Wilhelm Period 5
ReplyDeleteAlong with other countries in Europe a lot of other places are opening up there borders to the migrants so they have a safe place to stay. Croatia was very helpful about taking in human beings who need help escaping there bad life. The negative issue is though is how is this going to affect there country.
ReplyDeleteKarly Hagen Period:4