35 MILLION migrants heading to Europe, says Hungary as it builds second fence
SHOCK estimates predict up to 35 MILLION refugees could head for Europe due to hugely unstable situations across the world.
By Rob Virtue and Agnes Kegl
PUBLISHED: 05:54, Sat, Sep 19, 2015 | UPDATED: 08:17, Sat, Sep 19, 2015
The huge figure was revealed today by Hungary's minister for foreign affairs and trade Peter Szijjártó.
Speaking as the country begins work on its second fence to stop migrants heading across its border he predicted the current crisis will continue for years.
Mr Szijjártó told the Hungarian Times: "The name of the fence is 'Temporary Security Border Fence' but I think there is no question that in this case temporary means years.
"It's a self delusion to call this situation a migration crisis; it is a massive migration of nations, with inexhaustible reserves.
"I don't think that the analysis results, stating that 30-35 million people out there could possibly become migrants, would be an exaggeration.
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"Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are all countries with a huge population and an extremely unstable situation."
The Hungarian government also defended itself from criticism over its fences.
It comes as a ten-year-old migrant boy with a severe lung condition died in Hungary.
His mother and siblings successfully made the journey to Germany but his father stayed behind with the poorly youngster, who was buried on Friday.
The first barrier was put up at its border with Serbia but, after migrants changed their route, they have now begun erecting a 41 kilometre fence at Croatia.
Migrants look to break through to Hungary as that sees them enter the European Union's Schengen Zone which offers free movement between member countries.
He said: "The recent international political decisions created an unstable situation around Europe that makes sure that the amount of people won't decrease.
Peter SzijjártóGETTY
Peter Szijjártó said estimates of 30-35 million were likely true
"This is why it's extremely important to protect our borders.
"This issue wasn't this important until now, so the European Union neglected it a little bit.
"It became clear that - though its the border of Schengen - Greece couldn't protect the border of the European Union.
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"The Hungarian/Serbian border is another border of Schengen. If we want to follow the orders of Schengen, we have to build a physical obstruction, because this 175 km long area is quite easy to cross.
"The European Union just realised what the Schengen border means.
"If we want to keep the freedom of movement in the European Union, we have to protect the outer borders.''
