Migrants stranded in Greece, face eviction in France as Europe rifts widen

At flashpoints near borders on either side of Europe, authorities tried Tuesday to force back migrants desperate to begin new lives in more prosperous nations. In Greece, police bused about 1,250 Afghans stuck at the Macedonian border back to Athens after countries further up the migrant trail wouldn’t let them through. In France, authorities prepared to evict people from a shantytown known as the “jungle” in the port of Calais, where migrants wait for a chance to try to cross into Britain.

It is not acceptable and it must not be tolerated by the EU, for (some members) to do their own thing.

Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili

As tensions reached boiling point between European states worst affected by the crisis, new figures showed no let-up in the influx of people fleeing war and poverty. With migrant and refugee arrivals in Europe surpassing 110,000 in the first two months of the year alone, the United Nations warned that border restrictions being imposed by some states could cause chaos.

I am very worried about the news that we are getting about increasing closures of European borders along the Balkans route because that will create further chaos and confusion.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi

migrant crisis