Serbia approaches migrant problem humanely - UNHCR rep

The head of UNHCR in Serbia says the country's treatment of refugees is positive, while its humane approach leaves little room for people traffickers.

Izvor: Tanjug

Wednesday, 12.08.2015.

13:12

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Serbia approaches migrant problem humanely - UNHCR rep

He noted that asylum seekers were "not being placed under arrest", while 1,200 new refugees are registered each day with the help of NGOs and UNHCR.

"When a country has a humanitarian approach like Serbia does, then there's less room for smugglers, because (migrants) don't have to fear the authorities," Schodder explained.

According to him, the "announcement" of a fence on the border between Hugary and Serbia - i.e., the fence Hungary is currently building - has prompted refugees to try to reach western and northern Europe even more quickly.

This UN official observed that Serbia, Greece, Macedonia, and Hungary are not the migrants' final destinations.

"Most refugees have no intention of staying, because they have family or friends in western or northern Europe who are waiting for them," Schodder said.

Hungary's fence and a new law that will make it easier to deport migrants from third countries to Serbia could lead to them in the future attempting to reach the EU from Serbia via Croatia, he said, "although they would have to cross even more borders in that case."

"The escape of these people is being made increasingly difficult until they reach safety," Schodder has been quoted as saying.

If Hungary starts mass deportations to Serbia, a humanitarian catastrophe could occur, the newspaper noted, and quoted Schodder as asking, "it is not possible that Europe has learned nothing from the tragedies of the 20th century?"

The Vienna newspaper writes that "hundreds of Syrians are sitting on the ground in a park opposite the (main) bus station in Belgrade, while children sleep on cardboard under the benches."

The article adds that the refugees do not wish to state their names, "or have their photos taken, or register themselves" - for fear they may never reach "the safe place." Instead, said the daily, "they wish to, as soon as possible, through the Hungarian border, reach Germany."

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