Over the weekend hundreds of migrants based at Budapest train stations for several days, unable to get onboard trains to Germany, decided to walk to Austria on foot. They walked directly on highways and then gradually were diverted to less trafficked roads. Helping them out with food, hygienic products and clothing were humanitarian workers, many of them also from Slovakia. In today's broadcast Anca Dragu brings more information about the civic help of Slovaks. On Saturday evening large groups of migrants arrived at Nickelsdorf a village close to the Austrian, Hungarian border where the Red Cross is situated. Special trains were issued to bring more migrants to Vienna and Munich. Over the weekend, the influx of migrants from Serbia to Hungary allegedly dropped significantly, to some 744 people, including children, while over the past few weeks the number would have been between 1500 - 3000 per day.
On Monday, the Slovak President Andrej Kiska thanked today all the people who decided to voluntarily help the migrants, reads the Daily N. As it further notes, the President indirectly criticises Prime Minister Fico for addressing migrants as terrorists. Economic migrants coming to Europe must be distinguished from those who flee their countries genuinely fearing for their lives, health, freedom or food security, Prime Minister Robert Fico stated for RTVS on Sunday. Is a person who shells out €5,000 to a smuggler really impoverished?" asked Fico. The PM harbours the conviction that if the influx of refugees is to be stopped, the UN and EU must contribute to the stabilisation of their home countries. Fico called the free movement of people and goods to be one of the fundamental values of EU. "However, this value will be feasible only if countries with external EU borders will protect that border" he claimed, adding that migrant policies cannot be rooted in emotions and empty moralising. Christian Democratic Movement chair Jan Figel claims that this issue shouldn't be used for gaining political capital but needs to be perceived instead as one great test of humanity for Europe. "It calls for thoughtful and determined action both on the part of the Government and civic society. Slovakia can do more; could have done more earlier. Some activities should have been supported back in the past", said Figel. PM Fico and MP Figel concurred that mandatory quotas are misguided and useless, and that the situation in the countries migrants flee from must be addressed if the crisis is to be resolved.
