Fights between asylum-seeking refugees and economic migrants who are denied entry to FYROM broke out at the border with Greece.
About 3,000 migrants and refugees are stranded at Greece’s border with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia since mid-November. Non-EU member FYROM is refusing to allow economic migrants to cross its borders en route to western Europe.
Only refugees from war-torn Syria and Iraq qualify for refugee status, thereby having the right to enter Europe. The economic migrants gathered at the border are nationals of Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco and other countries and they are not considered asylum seekers.
However, economic migrants started blocking Syrian refugees from entering FYROM. As a result, about 6,500 migrants have been divided into two camps, with the rivals pelting stones at each other.
The fights escalated as migrants formed human chains across the border not allowing refugees to approach. FYROM police were forced to completely shut down entry points. Fights broke out between the two camps with the two sides using rocks and iron bars. Four injuries are reported so far.
Two trains are expected to arrive at the spot to transport non-qualifying migrants back to Thessaloniki or Athens. However, it is very unlikely that the migrants will agree to board the trains.
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