Hundreds of migrants have been trying to charge Macedonian police lines at the border with Greece.
While security forces beat back the migrants with truncheons and riot shields. A number of people were injured.
About 44,000 people have reportedly travelled through Macedonia in the past two months, meeting little border resistance
The Macedonian army closed the border on Thursday and spread razor wire over rail tracks but vulnerable categories of migrants were allowed to pass through.
In a statement, Macedonian officials said “A limited number of illegal migrants in vulnerable categories are allowed to enter Macedonia and they may be provided with aid in accordance with the state’s capacities.”
Several people were also injured when police fired tear gas and stun grenades in an attempt to disperse migrants.
“Any country is better than my country. My country is war, no future and killings,” One young man told UK Guardian.
Another holding his child said “We are also human beings, we are suffering – think about our children.”
The United Nations also lended a voice to the migrant situation.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres spoke with Macedonian Foreign Minister Poposki on Friday and “received assurances that the border will not be closed in the future.”
In a statement, MSF said it had treated more than 100 people yesterday and said there are around 3,000 people gathered at the border where there is a lot of frustration and anger among migrants and refugees due to the border closure.
United Nations Population Division estimate that between 1990 and 2013, the number of international migrants worldwide rose by over 77 million or by 50 per cent.
UNHCR said in a statement that it is “particularly worried about the thousands of vulnerable refugees and migrants, especially women and children, now massed on the Greek side of the border amid deteriorating conditions.”
Amnesty International has also called on the Macedonian authorities to ensure that any police and military forces deployed along the border respect international law and standards on the use of force and firearms.
Amnesty’s deputy director for Europe, Gauri van Gulik said “The Macedonian authorities are responding as if they were dealing with rioters rather than refugees who have fled conflict and persecution.”
The migrants trying to reach northern and western Europe come from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Many arriving in Macedonia are escaping the conflict in Syria.
This report was culled from http://www.bbc.com and http://www.theguardian.com
