News / EU

Serbia, Macedonia limit refugee passage: UNHCR

Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:38 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:39 AM ]

Refugees wait to enter a registration camp after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border near Gevgelija, Macedonia, November 18, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says Serbia and Macedonia have limited refugee entries into their countries to Syrians, Iraqis, and Afghans only.

UNHCR spokeswoman Melita Sunjic said on Thursday that the two European countries had started turning back all refugees from other countries.

“As of 6 pm (1600 GMT) yesterday evening, Serbia started turning back [to Macedonia] all but Syrians, Iraqis, and Afghans,” Sunjic said.

A man carries a child as refugees prepare to board a train heading to Serbia after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, November 16, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

In recent months, EU states have been receiving thousands of refugees fleeing violence in Middle Eastern and African countries. Syrians, Iraqis, and Afghans make up the majority of the refugees arriving in Europe.

Figures gathered by the UN show that nearly 3,500 asylum seekers that tried to enter Europe via sea have drowned so far this year while over 800,000 refugees have crossed the Mediterranean to reach the continent in 2015.

The EU has predicted that at least three million more refugees would enter the bloc by 2017.

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