The crisis of mass refugees entering Europe has reached a critical stage with the actions of countries along their transit route. Slovenia, the smallest country on the main route of refugees heading towards Austria and then Germany, has begun measures to fence its borders. According to Reuters, trucks carrying barbed wire have arrived in the border town of Veliki Obrez in Slovenia to commence fencing operations. This town, located on the border with Croatia, has also witnessed a significant presence of soldiers and police since Wednesday morning. Approximately 180,000 people, most fleeing war and turmoil in Syria and Afghanistan, have entered Slovenia since late October, as Hungary's border fencing has pushed these refugees towards its western neighbor. Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar stated on Tuesday that while the country's borders will remain open, this fencing will help control the influx of refugees. He added that if Austria refuses to accept refugees, Slovenia will not have sufficient resources to shelter them during the winter cold. About 175 police officers from other EU countries have entered Slovenia to bolster local forces, with another 100 expected to join in about two weeks. Meanwhile, according to AFP, on Wednesday morning at least 14 people, including seven children, drowned when their boat sank in the coastal borders of Turkey. These individuals were attempting to reach the shores of Greece by boat. The Turkish Coast Guard managed to rescue 27 other refugees, including a pregnant woman, who were trapped among the wreckage. The UN Refugee Agency announced on October 27 that in the largest migration crisis in Europe since World War II, over 700,000 refugees and migrants reached Europe’s borders in 2015 via the Mediterranean Sea. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, also warned in a speech to the European Parliament that the refugee crisis poses a risk of 'changing the structure' of the EU. Reports indicate that since mid-September, 250,000 migrants and refugees have crossed through the Balkan countries, despite the cold and adverse weather conditions not affecting the number of migrants heading towards Central and Northern Europe.
Migration Crisis; Slovenia Begins Fencing Its Borders
Slovenia has begun erecting fences along its borders in response to a surge of refugees fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan. This move comes as Hungary's border restrictions have redirected refugees towards Slovenia, raising concerns about the capacity to manage the influx during winter. The situation highlights the ongoing migration crisis in Europe, with significant implications for EU policies and border management.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Slovenia has begun erecting fences along its borders to manage the influx of refugees fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan. This decision comes as Hungary's border restrictions have redirected many refugees towards Slovenia, raising concerns about the country's capacity to shelter them during winter.
- Approximately 180,000 refugees have entered Slovenia since late October.
- The UN reported over 700,000 refugees reached Europe in 2015, marking the largest migration crisis since World War II.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The migration crisis has seen millions of people fleeing war and persecution, seeking safety in Europe. The situation has prompted various responses from EU member states, with some countries tightening border controls.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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