The migrant route through the Western Balkans into the EU has become increasingly treacherous in recent months. Lethal exchanges of gunfire between rival gangs of smugglers and fatal car crashes have led to several deaths and injuries. The violence is believed to be a result of a turf war between Moroccan, Afghan, and Syrian gangs who control access to the Hungarian border fence. Police on both sides of the border are accused of colluding with the smugglers, further exacerbating the situation. Despite the heavily fortified fence and strict measures in place, including daily detentions and pushbacks, the number of migrants reaching the EU continues to rise.
The situation has become so dire that residents of the Serbian border villages and the city of Subotica have appealed to police to restore calm. Both the Austrian and Slovak governments have protested to Hungary about the high number of migrants reaching their borders through Hungary. Concerns have also been raised about the cruelty and violence inflicted by smugglers on the migrants, particularly young Afghans who try to cross the border without paying. Smugglers have been seen berating and beating these vulnerable individuals, leaving them terrified and injured.
The infamous Hungarian border fence, with its electrified razor wire, not only allows smugglers to control who crosses the border but also eliminates the possibility of “individual initiatives”. Young migrants used to play a game where they would attempt to cut through the fence at different spots simultaneously, knowing that a few might get through. However, with the arrival of automatic rifles and pistols from Kosovo, the game has become even riskier and more deadly.
The violence and dangers surrounding the migrant route are not confined to gun battles and smuggler violence. Fatal car crashes have also become distressingly common. Smugglers often engage in high-speed police chases to evade capture, leading to accidents with migrants injured or even killed. In Hungary alone, there have been at least 20 crashes involving migrants in the past year. Austrian police report 70 incidents in the eastern state of Burgenland, where smugglers attempted to evade police controls.
Despite the risks and hardships, the number of migrants attempting this dangerous journey continues to rise. Migrants primarily consist of Syrians and Afghans, but there are also Kurds, Pakistanis, and individuals from other nationalities. The desperation and determination of these migrants to seek a better life in Europe is reflected in the risks they are willing to take.
It is important to distinguish between the smugglers and the migrants themselves. While the smugglers are responsible for much of the violence and cruelty, the refugees are also victims in this situation. According to local activists, the Hungarian border fence’s primary purpose is not to stop migration but to control the payments made by migrants to the smugglers. The fence enables smugglers to extort every euro from individuals who cross the border.
The situation calls for immediate action to ensure the safety and security of migrants attempting the Western Balkans route. Collaboration between law enforcement agencies, both within and between countries, is crucial to combat smuggler violence and protect vulnerable migrants. Counteracting the influence of the gangs and addressing the corruption allegations against police officials is also essential.
The European Union should play a more active role in addressing this crisis, not only by condemning the pushbacks and violations of international law committed by Hungary but also by providing humanitarian aid and support to the affected regions. It is essential to create safer and legal avenues for migrants to seek asylum and to address the root causes of migration, such as conflict and poverty, in their countries of origin.
Overall, the escalating violence and dangers associated with the migrant route through the Western Balkans highlight the urgent need for international cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and long-term solutions to address the underlying issues driving migration.
