Thousands of Migrants Stranded in Greek Border Zone After Macedonia Denies Entry

Authorities blocked migrants from entering Macedonia on Thursday, August 20, leaving thousands of mostly Syrians and Afghans stranded on the Greek side of the border. The migrants were intending to travel to the Macedonian town of Gevgelija, a stop along the common migrant transit route to the Serbian border to reach Hungary. Hundreds of the migrants were coming from the Greek island of Kos.

Ivo Kotevski, a spokesman from the Macedonian police, said a 30-mile (50-kilometer) stretch of the border will be patrolled by army and police forces to stop what he described as a “massive” influx of migrants coming from Greece, according to Associated Press. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty