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Migrants Fleeing Hungary Start a Long March Toward Germany Migrants Fleeing Hungary Start a Long March Toward Germany
(about 3 hours later)
LONDON — Haggard and defiant, a large number of migrants marched from the Keleti train station in Budapest toward Germany on Friday, pledging to walk 300 miles rather than remain in a country where they are not welcome. LONDON — Haggard and defiant, hundreds of migrants stormed out of the Keleti train station in Budapest on Friday and set off on foot towards Germany, choosing a 300-mile walk over spending another night in a country where they are not welcome.
“This is going to go down in history,” said Rami Hassoun, an Egyptian migrant from Alexandria who was helping corral the crowds on a six-lane highway, where the migrants were being watched by the police. “This is going to go down in history,” said Rami Hassoun, an Egyptian migrant from Alexandria helping to corral the crowds on a six-lane highway to Austria, where the migrants were accompanied by a police patrol.
The police put the number of migrants who were walking at 500, but photographs from the scene and eyewitness accounts suggested the figure was at least twice that. Elsewhere, hundreds of migrants remained locked in a standoff with the police at the Bicske station outside Budapest, demanding that train service to the west be restored, so they could continue their journeys to more prosperous European countries, like Germany or Sweden.
Other migrants remained locked in a tense standoff with the police at the Bicske station outside Budapest, while more stormed out of a camp in the country’s south, highlighting the desperation of migrants determined to flee Hungary. Hundreds of others stormed out of a reception camp in the country’s south, highlighting their desperation to flee.
The mayhem there reflected the divisions in Europe over how to respond to the migration crisis: Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, who has been reluctant to admit more migrants, said on Friday that his country would take in thousands more Syrians, while Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary said that migrants could turn Europeans into a minority on their own continent and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said that Europe was responsible for every migrant death. The chaos in Hungary reflected the inadequacy of an asylum policy across the 28-member European Union bloc that has forced migrants to register or apply for asylum in the country where they arrive — though in many cases that becomes the country where they are discovered or detained by authorities.
Clashes over how to deal with the large influx of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere were expected to dominate a meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Friday in Luxembourg. Separately, representatives of the so-called Visegrad group of countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia — were to meet in Prague to forge a common approach. Once they register and apply, they must remain in that country — even if that country, like Hungary, is so hostile to migrants that it is building a 110-mile fence on its border with Serbia to keep them away.
But the scheduled talks offered little comfort to the migrants in Hungary, who hope to make it to Germany but find themselves stuck in a country that has made clear they are not welcome. On Friday, as the humanitarian crisis involving tens of thousands of migrants continued, lawmakers introduced changes to its penal code that would impose tougher measures on migrants — including a new law that makes crossing or damaging the fence punishable by prison or expulsion.
Subhi, a 17-year-old migrant from Damascus, Syria, was among those heading to Germany on foot, even though he walks with a limp. “I’m fed up,” he said. “I’m going to walk all the way to Germany to get treatment.” So flagrant is Hungary’s apparent animosity for migrants that the U.N. said its leaders had declined to accept assistance from the agency that supports refugees, including for migrants at Keleti, the main Budapest railway station, where thousands have been stranded in recent days without adequate food, lodgings or water.
Hungary’s center-right prime minister Viktor Orban has said he intends to enforce the E.U. rule about asylum, which he has been doing since he was criticized earlier in the week for just pushing migrants through the country. At the same time, he has referred to the migrants as “illegal,” regardless of their perilous journeys from strife or civil war, warned against an influx of Muslims and insisted on Friday that Europeans risked becoming a minority in their own continent.
“The reality is that Europe is threatened by a mass inflow of people, many tens of millions of people could come to Europe,” Reuters quoted Mr. Orban as saying on public radio.
“Now we talk about hundreds of thousands, but next year we will talk about millions and there is no end to this,” he said. “All of a sudden we will see that we are in minority in our own continent.”
Mr. Orban’s comments underlined divisions in Europe over how to respond to the migration crisis: While Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said on Friday that his country would take in thousands more Syrians, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has said it is a legal and moral imperative for Europe to provide sanctuary, some countries, including Britain, have responded reluctantly, while others like Hungary have been downright hostile.
Clashes over how to deal with the influx of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere dominated a meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Friday in Luxembourg, with no concrete resolution. France and Germany have backed a radical overhaul of the way European Union members share the responsibilities of coping with the crisis, suggesting that countries take in migrants according to their relative wealth and populations. But others have balked at the proposals.
Representatives of the so-called Visegrad group of countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia — meeting in Prague on Friday to forge a common approach, appeared to rally behind Mr. Orban, with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka railing against quotas and saying that the “chaos” caused by the migration crisis was undermining the confidence of European citizens.
The leaders cited concerns about public safety and the threat of terrorists sneaking in along with the many escaping war and conflict — a worry shared throughout Europe in the wake of terror attacks, some carried out by those who have returned from war zones in the Middle East.
When a trainful of migrants arrived at Bicske on Thursday, local volunteers took no time to appear. At a demonstration on Wednesday night in Budapest, tens of thousands pressed the government to step up its relief efforts.
Ayham Kaka, 30, was waiting to depart for Berlin last Monday, with ticket in hand. “We don’t come to stay in Hungary,” he said. “It is a very dangerous situation, the police are very dangerous,” he added.
“It is better in Germany,” Mr. Kaka said. “Germany help people who are Syrian, study, give people money, house...”
Eastern and Central European countries, which had relatively modest levels of immigration under Communist rule, have been struggling with how to integrate immigrants into society amid fears that a sudden influx of migrants could undermine the European economy and their way of life.
The day of talks offered little comfort to the migrants in Hungary who hope to make it to Germany but who find themselves effectively trapped.
Subhi, a 17-year-old migrant from Damascus, Syria, was among those walking to Germany, even though he walks with a limp. “I’m fed up,” he said. “I’m going to walk all the way to Germany to get treatment.”
Imad Sbeih, a 50-year-old man in a wheelchair who is also from Damascus, was equally determined. “Nothing but death will stop us,” he said.Imad Sbeih, a 50-year-old man in a wheelchair who is also from Damascus, was equally determined. “Nothing but death will stop us,” he said.
In southern Hungary, the local news media reported that up to 300 migrants escaped from a camp at Roszke on Friday morning, running into a field and crossing a highway with the police chasing them. The local news media reported that up to 300 migrants escaped from a camp at Roszke, in southern Hungary, on Friday morning, running into a field and crossing a highway with the police chasing them.
And in Bicske, migrants continued to barricade themselves in a train to avoid being sent to a nearby camp. Others fled the train and escaped. Those who were still on the train overnight slept on the floor, on baggage racks or wherever they could find refuge. Many refused to eat as a show of protest. In Bicske, migrants continued to barricade themselves in a train to avoid being sent to a nearby camp. Others fled the train and escaped.
Migrants said the situation on the train was becoming unbearable, with the stench of clogged toilets wafting through the cars. Others talked of pursing a policy of passive resistance, hoping that Hungary would cave into their demands, even as the authorities were digging in. Migrants said the situation on the train was becoming unbearable, with the stench of clogged toilets wafting through the cars. Others talked of pursuing a policy of passive resistance, hoping that Hungary would cave into their demands, even as the authorities were digging in
Laszlo Balazs, a police official in charge of border control, was quoted by the Hungarian state news agency as saying that 120 migrants on a separate train, which had also stopped, had agreed to be escorted to a camp in Vamosszabadi, near the border with Slovakia, where they would be registered by immigration officials.Laszlo Balazs, a police official in charge of border control, was quoted by the Hungarian state news agency as saying that 120 migrants on a separate train, which had also stopped, had agreed to be escorted to a camp in Vamosszabadi, near the border with Slovakia, where they would be registered by immigration officials.
He said that in Bicske, too, the police were hoping to persuade migrants to cooperate.He said that in Bicske, too, the police were hoping to persuade migrants to cooperate.
The police said they had detained over 3,000 people crossing the border illegally and 11 suspected of people smuggling. Thousands of Hungarian soldiers are in the process of building a fence on the Serbian border intended to keep migrants out. Asked about a video by The New York Times, showing people identified as police officers spraying migrants about to cross the border with Serbia, Mr. Balazs said they were investigating the episode. The police said they had detained over 3,000 people crossing the border illegally and 11 suspected of people smuggling. Asked about a video by The New York Times, showing people identified as police officers pepper spraying migrants about to cross the border with Serbia, Mr. Balazs said they were investigating the episode.
On Thursday, the Hungarian authorities reopened the gates at the Keleti station, briefly giving them hope that they would be able to board trains for Germany, the favored destination of many because of its relative prosperity and welcoming stance. Indifference to migrants has not been limited to Hungary, with internal politics — the spread and growth of right-wing, anti-migrant parties — framing many of the leaders’ responses to the crisis.
Instead, when a train bound for the Austrian frontier halted at Bicske and the migrants realized that they were en route to a detention center, many erupted in protest. In Britain Mr. Cameron responded Friday to what his critics call his apathy to the crisis by vowing to accept thousands more Syrians — but only from existing camps near the conflict zone. Leaders are trying to find the difficult balance between offering assistance and not encouraging more people to head to Europe.
The crisis has stoked acrimony between countries like Hungary, where Mr. Orban said on Thursday that Muslim migrants were undermining the quality of life, and France, Germany and others that insist that Europe has a legal and moral imperative to offer sanctuary.
France and Germany have backed a radical overhaul of the way European Union members share the responsibilities of coping with the crisis, suggesting that countries take in migrants according to their relative wealth and populations.
In Britain, Mr. Cameron responded to what his critics call indifference to the migration crisis by vowing to accept thousands more Syrians — but only from existing camps near the conflict zone. Leaders are trying to find the difficult balance between offering assistance and not encouraging more people to head to Europe.
Mr. Cameron, who is trying to manage anti-immigration sentiment in the country as well as in his own Conservative Party, had been criticized for dismissing on Wednesday the idea of Britain adhering to a quota system for taking in asylum seekers who reached Europe.Mr. Cameron, who is trying to manage anti-immigration sentiment in the country as well as in his own Conservative Party, had been criticized for dismissing on Wednesday the idea of Britain adhering to a quota system for taking in asylum seekers who reached Europe.
“We have taken a number of genuine asylum seekers from Syrian refugee camps, and we keep that under review,” Mr. Cameron said, “but we think the most important thing is to try to bring peace and stability to that part of the world.” ”We think the most important thing is to try to bring peace and stability to that part of the world,” he said, adding “I don’t think there is an answer that can be achieved simply by taking more and more refugees.”
He added, “I don’t think there is an answer that can be achieved simply by taking more and more refugees.”
Mr. Cameron gave no details or firm numbers on the number of people Britain would take in. But Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said that the country would take in 4,000 more Syrians.Mr. Cameron gave no details or firm numbers on the number of people Britain would take in. But Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said that the country would take in 4,000 more Syrians.
Mr. Cameron also emphasized that Britain is spending 900 million pounds, about $1.37 billion, this year to aid Syrians with food, shelter and medical supplies. Later on Friday, he said Britain would spend £100 million more on aid for Syrians, bringing the total to £1 billion. Mr. Cameron also emphasized that Britain is spending 900 million pounds, about $1.37 billion, this year to aid Syrians with food, shelter and medical supplies. Later on Friday, he said that Britain would spend £100 million more on aid for Syrians, bringing the total to £1 billion. In the past four years, roughly 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in Britain.
In the past four years, roughly 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in Britain.
The head of the United Nations refugee agency chief, António Guterres, said on Friday that the European Union should take in 200,000 people under an emergency relocation program.The head of the United Nations refugee agency chief, António Guterres, said on Friday that the European Union should take in 200,000 people under an emergency relocation program.
The appeal highlighted the escalation in the movement of migrants, with more than 310,000 reaching southern Europe this year.The appeal highlighted the escalation in the movement of migrants, with more than 310,000 reaching southern Europe this year.
Less than five months ago, when as many as 900 people died off the coast of Africa, the European Council called for 40,000 people to be taken in. In Syria, a funeral was held Friday for Aylan Kurdi, the 3-year-old boy whose drowning set off a global outcry after photographs of his body circulated on the Internet. His brother, Ghalib, and mother, Rehan, were also buried on Friday. The family had been trying to reach Greece by boat.
Such a plan could work only if accompanied by the creation of adequate reception areas, he said, calling for the European Union to set up such camps in Greece, Hungary and Italy.
The United Nations reported on Thursday that 5,600 migrants had crossed the border into Macedonia, the highest one-day total on record, and that 3,300 more had entered Hungary.
The acceptance of large numbers of migrants has met deep resistance elsewhere, amid fears that a sudden influx of migrants could undermine the European economy and way of life.
Eastern and Central European countries, which had relatively modest levels of immigration under Communist rule, have been struggling with how to integrate immigrants into society.
On Thursday, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said that at least 100,000 migrants should be distributed across the 28-member European Union, a far more ambitious target than previously sought. Next week, the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, is expected to announce a plan for the resettlement of at least 120,000 more migrants.
Highlighting the challenges ahead for a coordinated response, Mr. Orban said on Friday said that Europeans risked becoming a minority in their own territory. “The reality is that Europe is threatened by a mass inflow of people, many tens of millions of people could come to Europe,” Reuters quoted Mr. Orban as saying on public radio.
“Now we talk about hundreds of thousands, but next year we will talk about millions and there is no end to this,” he said. “All of a sudden we will see that we are in minority in our own continent.”
In Turkey, which has accepted huge numbers of Syrian migrants, Mr. Erdogan lashed out at Europe this week for its response.
“European countries, which turned the Mediterranean Sea — the cradle of ancient civilizations — into a migrant cemetery, are party to the crime that takes place when each refugee loses their life,” he said in a speech on Thursday.
In Syria, a funeral was held for Aylan Kurdi, the 3-year-old boy whose drowning set off a global outcry after photographs of his body circulated on the Internet. His brother, Ghalib, and mother, Rehan, were also buried on Friday. The family had been trying to reach Greece by boat.