From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Hungary to erect new fence to deter migrants
The Hungarian government says it plans to start building a new fence on the border with Serbia in the spring because of the risk that large numbers of migrants may try to enter the country.
Janos Lazar, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, says that work on the second barrier will start as soon as weather conditions allow.
Lazar says the government will spend some 38 billion forints ($130.7 million) on erecting the new fence and to set up shipping containers in transit zones at the Serbian border.
Asylum-seekers will be forced to wait there while their requests for protection are reviewed by Hungarian officials.
The stricter measures for refugees have been strongly criticized by human rights advocates. Amnesty International says the government is “demonizing” asylum-seekers.
— AFP
The Times of Israel Community.