Refugee path through Slovenia under threat as train traffic cut with Croatia

Slovenian police on Thursday stopped a train carrying migrants and refugees at the border with Croatia, saying some 150 passengers would be returned to Zagreb because they did not have the necessary documents for onward travel.

“Croatia is not interested to be a country where the migrants will seek what they can get in other countries where they are now”, he told reporters. Croatia represents a longer and more hard route into Europe, but those fleeing violence in their homelands had little choice. “You are welcome in Croatia and you can pass through Croatia”.

Hundreds of migrants entered Croatia from Serbia on Wednesday after Hungary sealed its border to them.

In Croatia the humanitarian situation has deteriorated because of the mass inflow of migrants.

European Council President Donald Tusk and EU leaders are expected to meet next Wednesday to discuss measures to be taken to handle the crisis at EU’s external borders and also help Turkey, where many of refugees arrive first, as well as other states along the route.

“We are calling on the European Union to realize that Croatia will not be a hot-spot”, he said.

Serbian officials, fearing the closure in Croatia would block thousands of migrants inside the country, protested Zagreb’s move.

Hungary’s closure of borders has interrupted the stream of asylum seekers, leaving thousands of people stranded and search for alternative routes such as via Croatia. Migrants slept on streets, on train tracks and at a local gas station.

Despite the setbacks those on board were clear about where they are headed.

His government has said it will receive asylum requests, but not create a “corridor” for refugees to simply pass through Slovenia and into Austria. “We don’t know how to answer this question, and I see that they are very nervous and very exhausted “.

The Ljubljana-based organization has called on the people of Slovenia “to contribute according to their abilities and bring food or hygiene goods”. Around 100 people crossed into Slovenia from Croatia and were being held at a makeshift processing center in the border town of Berizce. Some 7, 300 refugees have been registered crossing into Croatia by the country’s Interior Ministry as of Thursday in the last two days.

Slovenia later stopped all passenger train traffic on the main line from Croatia through the border point, and police stepped up checks near Dobova, using a helicopter as well foot patrols. The authorities intent to return detained migrants back into the territory of Croatia.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the first phase of the 41-kilometer (25-mile) barrier will be completed on Friday, with coils of razor wire being laid down before an actual fence goes up.

Police chief Marjan Fank said Slovenia would activate reserve police units to strenghthen the control of borders with Hungary and Croatia.