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August 21, 2015

Macedonia Declares State of Emergency to Address Migration 
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In news from Europe, Macedonia has declared a state of emergency and
sealed its southern border with Greece after more than 40,000 migrants
have flooded into the country over the last two months. A spokesperson
for the Interior Ministry announced the decision Thursday.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Ivo Kotevski: "The Macedonian government
has decided to declare a state of emergency in crisis regions, on its
southern and northern borders, so, according to laws, army can be
deployed on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia."

The majority of migrants have been passing through Macedonia in efforts
to reach Germany, Britain and Sweden. But with the border between Greece
and Macedonia now sealed, thousands are stranded in a no man's land
between the two countries. On Thursday night, police fired tear gas at
the crowd of migrants by the border. One man spoke about the violence.

Migrant: "They shoot us today. They shoot us today, I can tell you. I
see it. We was in front of the place. Officer people, they—officer
people in Macedonia, they shoot the people."

 

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