Croatia has limited capacities for refugee influx, says PM

A girl cries after coming in contact with tear gas during clashes between migrants and Hungarian police at the border with Serbia and near the town of Horgos.

Some migrants threw missiles, including stones and water bottles.

He added that the European Union would have to handle “hot spots” before migrants reach Croatia.

Slovenia, sandwiched between Croatia and Austria, is now preparing to receive large numbers of refugees moving north. Speaking after talks with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar said his country would abide by the rules of Europe’s Schengen Zone, largely enabling border-free travel.

Some 4,000 migrants have entered Croatia from Serbia in the past 24 hours after Hungary sealed its border, national state-run HRT television reported on Thursday. Under the new fast-track penal system, anyone who enters the country illegally will be sent to prison.

“We fled wars and violence and did not expect such brutality and inhumane treatment in Europe“, Iraqi migrant Amir Hassan told the BBC from Horgos.

“While they have been very welcoming many migrants try to avoid the police after their experience in Hungary“, said Zsuzsanna Zsohar of Migration Aid, a civil initiative of volunteers in Hungary helping refugees.

Serbian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Aleksandar Vulin lodged a strong protest on Wednesday over Hungary’s use of teargas and water cannons against refugees in the territory of Serbia. “Here the border is closed”, said a man who gave his name as Abed and said he was from the devastated Syrian city of Homs.

Many travelled by bus to the Croatian border after Hungary completed a fence along its border with Serbia.

“All the countries have their domestic problems, but since they are the people fleeing the wars and persecutions, then we must show our compassionate leadership”.

Hungary’s hardline anti-migrant stance has been sharply criticised, with the UN refugee agency saying it could be in violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention, says AFP.

At least nine people including four children separated from their families by Hungarian police during the breach of a border fence in Röszke must be immediately released and reunited with their families, said Amnesty international today.

By closing its border with Serbia by erecting a razor-wire fence, thousands of migrants have decided to go westwards via neighboring Croatia instead.

Under the new laws, most migrants entering the country from Serbia can be turned away because that country is considered safe and could theoretically provide them asylum.