To stop migrants entering illegally, Hungary declared a state of emergency in two of its southern counties that shares its border with Serbia.
The state of emergency empowers the Hungarian police to detain anyone trying to breach a razor-wire fence built on the border with Serbia.
It also gives police more powers and allows for the deployment of troops pending parliamentary approval.
What will be the effects of Emergency?
- Police buses will now take asylum applicants to registration centres, but if their applications are refused they will now be returned to Serbia rather than being given passage through Hungary.
- Anyone who crosses the border illegally will face criminal charges, and 30 judges have been put on standby to try potential offenders.
- It will be a criminal offence – punishable by prison or deportation – to damage the newly-built four-metre fence along Hungary’s 175 kilometre border with Serbia.
Background of the Event
- The declaration of emergency is a part of the Syrian refugee crisis which the European Union (EU) nations has been facing.
- As a result of civil war that broke out in Syria, outflow of refugees from the country has been increased.
- To tackle this crisis Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands had already introduced border controls to cope up with a flood of refugees.
- Earlier, Hungarian Defence Minister Csaba Hende resigned, on account of the migrant crisis.
Migrant Route to Germany
The map shown below explains how the refugees from Syria are moving towards countries in Europe, especially Germany, seeking asylum.
