Migrants and refugees cross the border line between Greece and Macedonia near the town of Gevgelija on September 11, 2015. (AFP Photo)
Gevgelija, Macedonia:
Around 7,600 migrants entered Macedonia in just 12 hours overnight -- a record according to a UN official quoted by Macedonia's state news agency Friday.
"Around 7,600 migrants, mostly from Syria, entered Macedonia between 6:00 pm Thursday and 6:00 am today," Alexandra Krause of the UNHCR refugee agency told MIA.
"We have information from our Greek colleagues that more migrants are travelling towards the Macedonian border in buses," she added.
Some 500 migrants, including refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East, were arriving in Macedonia every hour since Friday morning, according to humanitarian workers and AFP journalists.
Once arriving in the former Yugoslav republic, they walk to a reception centre set up by the UNHCR where they register with the authorities and later get on buses that take them north to the border to Serbia. From there they enter Hungary, a European Union member.
Along with Serbia, Macedonia has become a major transit country for tens of thousands of migrants who trudge up from Greece, after risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean crammed into makeshift boats.
The majority are heading for Germany, which has pledged to welcome hundreds of thousands more refugees having already taken in 450,000 to date since January.
"Around 7,600 migrants, mostly from Syria, entered Macedonia between 6:00 pm Thursday and 6:00 am today," Alexandra Krause of the UNHCR refugee agency told MIA.
"We have information from our Greek colleagues that more migrants are travelling towards the Macedonian border in buses," she added.
Some 500 migrants, including refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East, were arriving in Macedonia every hour since Friday morning, according to humanitarian workers and AFP journalists.
Once arriving in the former Yugoslav republic, they walk to a reception centre set up by the UNHCR where they register with the authorities and later get on buses that take them north to the border to Serbia. From there they enter Hungary, a European Union member.
Along with Serbia, Macedonia has become a major transit country for tens of thousands of migrants who trudge up from Greece, after risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean crammed into makeshift boats.
The majority are heading for Germany, which has pledged to welcome hundreds of thousands more refugees having already taken in 450,000 to date since January.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
