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Europe

Refugees languish on Hungarian border

Refugees endure harsh conditions along Hungary's southern border, refusing to turn back despite increasing difficulties in reaching Western Europe. Diego Cupolo reports from Kelebija, Serbia.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    Unwelcome but undeterred

    On Sunday, Hungarian voters will decide whether or not their country will accept refugees relocated from EU nations in a referendum called by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Analysts predict an overwhelming ‘No’ vote, which is largely symbolic as it is unlikely to impact decisions in Brussels or reduce a persistent flow of asylum-seekers to border transit areas such as Kelebija.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    The new gates of Europe

    People arrive in Kelebija to cross this gate. The Serbian and Hungarian governments worked out a deal to allow border transit for up to 20 asylum-seekers a day. After registering with Serbian officials, potential refugees receive a date to appear at the border, where they are interviewed and have their asylum applications reviewed by Hungarian migration agents.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    Transit bottleneck

    The process is not without faults. Mohamed Gamal, an 18-year-old Egyptian (not pictured above), arrived in Kelebija after seeing his name on a list of people to be interviewed. When he spoke with border officials, they said the appointment was for another Egyptian of the same name and that they had no records showing he entered Serbia.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    Minimal assistance

    Having few options, Gamal stayed in the transit camp of about 100 people who were also awaiting asylum appointments. One water spigot was available on site and few organizations visit the camp daily. People make do in the camp with minimal assistance. Pictured above is one of nine children in a Yazidi family that had been at the camp several weeks.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    24/7 patrol

    "I will find another way," Gamal told DW, saying he was negotiating with smugglers onsite. He paid 1,500 euros the prior month to breach the fence, but was caught and bused back to Belgrade. Helicopters and 24/7 patrols have made illegal crossings increasingly difficult. "Believe me, if you run faster than the police, they will send the dogs on you."

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    'Better Than Other Places'

    The children of Walid Khaled, a car mechanic from Irbil, Iraq, play by the border fence. It’s been two months since Khaled arrived at the camp, where his family has suffered setbacks due to confusion over their immigration documents. "The police tells us 'I don’t know, I don’t know,'" he said. "Here it’s bad, but it’s better than other places."

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    No turning back

    Kelebija hosts one of two camps in the area. Middle Eastern refugees stay here, while Afghans and Pakistanis stay in Horgos. As he fed a campfire with donated diapers and clothing, Khaled said he preferred staying in Kelebija - despite the fact his prospects of crossing the border weren’t improving - because his family had been robbed repeatedly in other camps.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    Howls from passing truckers

    The next morning, southbound truckers mocked camp inhabitants by howling like monkeys into their megaphones. "In Greece, the average person, if you talk to them, displays sympathy," said Sydney Fernandez, field coordinator for North Star, a Serbian humanitarian organization. "Here, locals have the mentality that these people should have stayed home to fight for their land."


  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    Unwelcome but undeterred

    On Sunday, Hungarian voters will decide whether or not their country will accept refugees relocated from EU nations in a referendum called by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Analysts predict an overwhelming ‘No’ vote, which is largely symbolic as it is unlikely to impact decisions in Brussels or reduce a persistent flow of asylum-seekers to border transit areas such as Kelebija.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    The new gates of Europe

    People arrive in Kelebija to cross this gate. The Serbian and Hungarian governments worked out a deal to allow border transit for up to 20 asylum-seekers a day. After registering with Serbian officials, potential refugees receive a date to appear at the border, where they are interviewed and have their asylum applications reviewed by Hungarian migration agents.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    Transit bottleneck

    The process is not without faults. Mohamed Gamal, an 18-year-old Egyptian (not pictured above), arrived in Kelebija after seeing his name on a list of people to be interviewed. When he spoke with border officials, they said the appointment was for another Egyptian of the same name and that they had no records showing he entered Serbia.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    Minimal assistance

    Having few options, Gamal stayed in the transit camp of about 100 people who were also awaiting asylum appointments. One water spigot was available on site and few organizations visit the camp daily. People make do in the camp with minimal assistance. Pictured above is one of nine children in a Yazidi family that had been at the camp several weeks.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    24/7 patrol

    "I will find another way," Gamal told DW, saying he was negotiating with smugglers onsite. He paid 1,500 euros the prior month to breach the fence, but was caught and bused back to Belgrade. Helicopters and 24/7 patrols have made illegal crossings increasingly difficult. "Believe me, if you run faster than the police, they will send the dogs on you."

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    'Better Than Other Places'

    The children of Walid Khaled, a car mechanic from Irbil, Iraq, play by the border fence. It’s been two months since Khaled arrived at the camp, where his family has suffered setbacks due to confusion over their immigration documents. "The police tells us 'I don’t know, I don’t know,'" he said. "Here it’s bad, but it’s better than other places."

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    No turning back

    Kelebija hosts one of two camps in the area. Middle Eastern refugees stay here, while Afghans and Pakistanis stay in Horgos. As he fed a campfire with donated diapers and clothing, Khaled said he preferred staying in Kelebija - despite the fact his prospects of crossing the border weren’t improving - because his family had been robbed repeatedly in other camps.

  • Serbien Kelebija Fotoreportage Diego Cupolo an ungarischer Grenze (DW/D. Cupolo)

    Howls from passing truckers

    The next morning, southbound truckers mocked camp inhabitants by howling like monkeys into their megaphones. "In Greece, the average person, if you talk to them, displays sympathy," said Sydney Fernandez, field coordinator for North Star, a Serbian humanitarian organization. "Here, locals have the mentality that these people should have stayed home to fight for their land."