World Bulletin / News Desk

A UN expert on migration has warned EU over human rights violation against migrants at the borders of EU countries while up to 3,000 migrants per day arrive in Serbia.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Francois Crepeau, in a statement on Tuesday called on the EU to establish a human rights-based, coherent and comprehensive migration policy which makes mobility its central asset.

"It is the only way in which the EU can reclaim its border, effectively combat smuggling and empower migrants," he said.

"Let’s not pretend that what the EU and its member states are doing is working. Migration is here to stay,” Crepeau warned.

"Building fences, using tear gas and other forms of violence against migrants and asylum seekers, detention, withholding access to basics such as shelter, food or water and using threatening language or hateful speech will not stop migrants from coming or trying to come to Europe," the human rights expert said. 

While thousands continue heading into the Western Balkans from Greece, more than 10,000 refugees arrived in Serbia in the last couple of days, UN refugee agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said in a press conference in Geneva Tuesday. 

"In Serbia, UNHCR and the Serb authorities are working to respond to the humanitarian needs of the more than 10,000 refugees and others who have now arrived there in the wake of the dramatic scenes of the last few days at the Greek border with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," Fleming said.

- Up to 3,000 migrants per day to arrive in Serbia

According to UNHCR, the migrants have been continuing to cross, in groups of up to 300-400, the Greece-Macedonia border, traveling onwards by train or bus to Serbia.

 These arrivals will be continuing over the next few days at a rate of up to 3,000 people per day, she said.

"In view of this, and while understanding the legitimate concerns facing the countries in the region due to increasing arrivals of asylum-seekers and migrants, UNHCR appeals to the governments involved to implement border management measures with humanity and in accordance with their international obligations," Fleming said.

- More than 4 million Syrian refugees in host countries neighboring Syria

"Beyond the EU’s immediate borders, and in the region surrounding Syria the number of refugees is continuing to rise following new registrations in Turkey and now stands at 4,089,023 people," UNHCR noted.

According to UN, the 4,089,023 Syrian refugees in host countries neighboring Syria include 1,113,941 in Lebanon, 629,245 in Jordan, 250,408 in Iraq, 132,375 in Egypt, and 1,938,999 in Turkey where registration is carried out by Turkish authorities.  In addition, some 24,000 Syrian refugees are registered in other countries in North Africa.  

- 2,373 migrants died in Mediterranean

A total of 2,373 migrants and refugees have died while attempting to reach Europe by sea in 2015. The death toll recorded on this same date in 2014 was 2,081, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to IOM, some 255,152 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in Europe by sea so far in 2015. Nearly 100,000 came from Syria, more than 25,000 from Eritrea and about 32,000 migrants from Afghanistan.