Macedonia faces migrant pressure from two sides

They huddle on the Greek border, awaiting a chance to sneak into Macedonia. Other migrants who make it across this landlocked country into Serbia are being deported back.

It means that Macedonia is being sandwiched by migrant pressure from Greece to the south and Serbia to the north — as these desperate people seek to reach Western Europe.

Police say about 18,000 migrants have been registered passing through Macedonia in a last month. Syrians account for nearly 13,000, and most of the migrants are male. Among them were about 2,000 children.

Macedonia has become a major transit route for Middle Eastern and African refugees. At least 25 have been killed by trains since January walking on railway tracks. Many are robbed by criminal gangs.

Macedonia Migrants Photo Gallery

In this photo taken on Thursday, July 23, 2015 migrants look behind a window of a train departing to Serbia at the railway station in the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija. Macedonia is facing an increasing pressure of migrants flow on its southern and northern borders with Greece and Serbia. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Macedonia Migrants Photo Gallery

In this photo taken on Thursday, July 23, 2015 children, migrants from Afghanistan, look through a window after boarding a train to Serbia with their parents, at the railway station in the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija. Macedonia is facing an increasing pressure of migrants flow on its southern and northern borders with Greece and Serbia. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Macedonia Migrants Photo Gallery

In this photo taken on Thursday, July 23, 2015 Red Cross workers carry to the ambulance a migrant who has been seriously injured after he climbed atop of a tank wagon where he suffered an electric shock, at the railway station in the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija. At least 25 have been killed by trains since January as they walked on railway tracks. Many others are robbed by criminal gangs. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Macedonia Migrants Photo Gallery

In this photo taken on Thursday, July 23, 2015 a migrant enters a train through a window at the railway station in the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija. Macedonia has become a major transit route for thousands of Middle Eastern and African refugees and migrants who cross over from Greece and then continue into Serbia. At least 25 have been killed by trains since January as they walked on railway tracks. Many others are robbed by criminal gangs.(AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Macedonia Migrants Photo Gallery

In this photo taken on Thursday, July 23, 2015 migrants enter a train to Serbia at the railway station in the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija. Macedonia has become a major transit route for thousands of Middle Eastern and African refugees and migrants who cross over from Greece and then continue into Serbia. At least 25 have been killed by trains since January as they walked on railway tracks. Many others are robbed by criminal gangs. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Macedonia Migrants Photo Gallery

In this photo taken on Thursday, July 23, 2015 migrants enter a train to Serbia at the railway station in the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija. Macedonia has become a major transit route for thousands of Middle Eastern and African refugees and migrants who cross over from Greece and then continue into Serbia. At least 25 have been killed by trains since January as they walked on railway tracks. Many others are robbed by criminal gangs. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Macedonia Migrants Photo Gallery

In this photo taken on Thursday, July 23, 2015 migrants wait to board a train to Serbia at the railway station in the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija. The country has become a major transit route for thousands of Middle Eastern and African refugees and migrants who cross over from Greece and then continue into Serbia. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

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Text from AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Macedonia Faces Migrant Pressure From Two Sides, by Thanassis Stavrakis. 

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