The Macedonian Army hasn’t disclosed how long the metal fence will be. Already annoyed at the fence being constructed by the Macedonian army in order to funnel the migrants to established checkpoints, the migrants began pelting stones at the officers.
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Macedonia has become the latest country to restrict the flow of migrants entering the country, erecting a fence on its border with Greece.
Reports suggest that Macedonian police briefly entered Greece and fired stun grenades on the rioters. Doctors from the Red Cross and other non-governmental organizations said they treated 20 people for head injuries and breathing problems.
More than 720,000 migrants – mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan – have arrived in Greece so far this year, according to the IOM. Majority continue on a long trek through the Balkans toward the promised lands of central and northern Europe.
Associated Press said close to 250 people on the Greek side of the border threw stones at police.
One man appeared to break down, throwing himself on railway lines before the Macedonian police, screaming and flailing. When you see Morocco, Iran, Tunisia, Algeria, you see on TV, it’s peace, but in the street it’s different.
The selective approach has caused a chaotic buildup of other nationalities, including Algerians, Tunisians, Libyans, Lebanese and Bangladeshis, at the Macedonian-Greek border. It did not specify the number of migrants wounded in the clashes.
Gjorgjev said that fence will serve “to direct the inflow of people towards the controlled points for their registration and humane treatment”.
“We would like to underline that the border will remain open”, said government spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgjiev after Saturday’s incident.
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“I have been here for 10 days with my two sons”, one Iranian woman, Fatemeh, said.
