weeks, sometimes months. >> and the e.u. struggles to cope... >> we don't know, they stop us here. >> what's being done while lives hang in the balance? >> we need help now.

>> on the border of hungary, it will not allow refugees through. all at chaos means that people are finding a new way to enter into western europe as refugees are going--they're making their way south and trying to cross from serbia into croatia. well, hungary has described refugees who tried to push past the border as a real danger to the country. neave barker takes a look at the

border. >> in europe's resolving of the refugee crisis, police firing water canons at hundreds of refugees trying to enter hungary. anti-terrorist you wants were sent in to push back the crowds. some used missiles aimed at the police. they say they've taken lawful action to protect the board, but for those eagle for travel north the prows vision is growing. the border is a vital crossing between european union and hungary. hungary has told serbia it has ordered a 30-day suspension at the checkpoint calling on the serbian government.

>> we're on the serbian side of the border with hungary, and mohammed, what is going on at the moment? there are still dozens of refugees who are behind us at that fence, that border crossing, although no one has attempted to cross back into hungary since that incident that happened about 90 minutes ago when they were fired on with tear gas and water canons and in a manic tricken mood ran back into serbia. many injured they are being told

that they can take a bus that will take them to the border. many are still afraid about what it entails. how they were able to do so. one man i spoke to said that he was trying to find a smuggler that he could pay, but he was worried that it would still be too dangerous. there are refugees that are going forwards buss that are provided by the serbian government, who are told that they would be take to croatia, then the refugees could cross into croatia and end up in germany. >> i wants to tell you something. it's reporting that a witness said that three hungarian military humvees mounted with guns have approached the border with serbia near that crossing where police clashed with

refugees earlier. they say that refugees left the roads and went into the fields and there were soldiers manning the guns. you can't see that from where you are. we don't have independent verification, but that is quite alarming news if that is true for the refugees still there at the border. >> they're seeing a beefed up military presence. there are helicopters, riot police, and regular border police. they saw in the last few days police mounted on horseback. we've seen buses, water canons, and now to hear this it sounds like it's in line with the kind of reinforcement that the hungarians said that they would take at this time, which they are calling a time of crisis.

they mated it a time of emergency. they're taking emergency measures in two counties. one is directly behind us in order to reinforce their borders and make sure that they can stop in a influx of refugees trying to get into hungary especially the last few days. as far as the refugees they can't even understand the stance the hungarians are taking towards them in terms of not letting them cross over. when it comes to increased military presence and the force they've been met with, which has been called excessive. although, having said all that, there is a mood of defiance that is growing in this crowd of hundreds of refugees, many told me that they will stay here they are granted access no matter what dangers they may face. >> i was speaking to a refugee of amnesty international, who is

also at the border crossing where you are in serbia, she was criticizing essentially the response of the serbian authorities saying that the humanitarian efforts and aid that is need ready you are right now just haven't happened. just describe for us the conditions that these people are living in along that border. >> i can say that the conditions here would become dire. certainly at this point they are not as far as being able to handle an increased influx of people. they're going to need more volunteers. they're going to need more food, more water, more tents, more medics, especially if more refugees are met with the hostile force they were met with crossing over into hungary right now. we've seen a lot of injured people looking more medical

care. they would like to be able to handle the refugee crisis. throughout the day we have seen more and more refugees come to border crossings like this. it is becoming a veritable makeshift tent city. that's how much the number of refugees has increased. it's ex-increased exponentially throughout the hour and throughout the day. they'll need more people to handle the influx and handle humanitarian situation that becomes more dire by the day. >> those trying to push through the border, how many many are

entire families. families who traveled from places like syria and ended up here? >> that's a very good question. it's very hard to pinpoint exact numbers, statistics when it comes to how many single men. how many single women, how many families. there are a lot of families. we have seen dozens at least dozens of families today. i have spoken to many of them. they have come, fathers, mothers, children, from places like iraq, syria, they made the journey. they're here together. but i have met a lot of folks who are straighted from loved ones. i met a woman who is carrying her two-month-old baby who is trying to meet with her husband who is in german. they now cannot cross into hungary. they're concerned when they're going to be reunited. you have families who are here together. you have families who are separated and who are trying to get to loved ones.

and that's increasing the numb amount of fear that you have here. not just people who cannot go into hungary, but people who are unable to get in touch with their family members. they're trying to call people in germany to let them know that they're stuck at the border. they don't have access to wi-fi, phone cars or cellular expectativety. and because you have a situation that is getting worse and worse when it comes to connectivity that's increasing the fear. that's increasing the worry. that's making people more angry, and more angry towards the hungarians because of their stance that is being responded to and taken through a hostile and accepted stance. >> a lot of pressure on hungary at the moment because of the way that they're treating the refugees and the refugee crisis. the council of europe in the last hour have said that it is asking hungary to explain this

new legislation that is criminalizing any refugee who is cross int from serbia into hungary. there is a feeling that europe was not on top of the situation in the first place. you see the aid groups, and they can't understand why europe, which knew that this crisis was getting out of hands already, has not been able to implement measures that would effectively deal with this. they say they can't understand how they would be able to leave places like syriaer, where isil is used as a base, then come here and not being able to get into hungary. it is not something that they can't get their heads around right now. one woke i spoke to earlier, a syrian lady said that we thought

we would be met with a humanitarian response, a kind response in europe, and we're seeing this instead. they understand that we're suffering, and they still are just having meetings, and the european union is not doing enough to help us. on the ground everybody very confused as to why the european union has not been able to collectively come together and actually deal with this crisis that gets worse not just by the day but by the hour with the influx that does not seem like it's going to end any time soon. >> just a short time ago ban ki-moon gave his reaction on the border. and he asked european countries to show compassion towards refugees. >> i was shocked to see how these refugees and migrants were

treated this is not acceptable. what is known is that there are problems. all the countries, in fact, all the countries have domestic problems. but since the people who are freein free fleeing the wars and persecutions, we must showed compassionate leadership. >> niece images that you've shown is absolutely shocking. this is not what we expect of the european union, and the perspective members of it. we're talking about very vulnerable people here. you can see on dramatic images

of inpants, not just children but inmate infants held by their parents with bloodstreaming down their faces. these are people in need of international protection. we all have to take a step back and think about it, and we certainly hope that the authorities who are presumably authorizing these activities will desist. >> now the spokesman for the prime minister of hungary said that he the people at the board were, in fact, criminals. >> we should not be blamed for what is happening today.

there is in no way acceptable. these people are not innocent people. they are not refugees. they are criminals at the moment. there are some fundamental rules faced by the migrants have not happened. we have seen the opportunity and the challenge to see this happen in a legal way. this is not what is happening. you have to understand one thing.

>> what do you make of the scenes that you've seen today? did you ever think that it would escalate this far? >> we're witnessing these scenes. it's shocking. i find it very difficult that in 2015 we are hungary is behaving this way towards refugees. these people are fleeing war, fleeing violence, and want safety. that's all they want. hungary is erecting a razor wall along the border, and this is not the appropriate way to react. hungary has legal obligations under international law. they cannot do this to refugees. refugees have rights and hungary has duties. >> hungary's argument, in fact, we heard a few moments ago that

some who broke through are criminals and not refugees. they would describe them as economic migrants. but he used the words criminals. it's extraordinary words used in these circumstances. >> yes, well, he's judged them already. >> they're prevented from going into germany. they don't want to stay in hungary. they just want free access to passage.

>> it's difficult for hungary. hungary should find ways of coping not erecting this wall. >> some of the refugees made it through last week. those who are stuck south of the border in serbia, how do you

think they're going to react to the news that hungary's borders are going to be closed for at least 30 days. how will they react to the news? >> i they'll find alternative routes. i heard this morning that they're finding routes by croatia. >> stay with me. i just want to show you and also our viewers.

>> no one is moving in either direction. the you could say that the throwing of a water bottle was to blame. you could say that the raising of the canister was to blame. you could say that the police overreacted. you could say that it's the migrant's fault. people are sideways against the wire. the police are pressing forward with their shields.

there has been more tear gas. the situation again has escalated here, and it is very tense. >> say that they're being pushed back? where are they being pushed back to, nick? >> they're being pushed back 100 meters. the police have broken their lines and charged into the refugees. they're now charging back towards the gate.

the police are trying to recapture the gates. now they're trying to close it again. >> this was nick miller on the second wave of violence that happened on the serbian-hungary border. we've been concentrating on that border. we want to take to you greece where we received these pictures. we've seen successful on the islands of lesbos. you can see that the police are pushing refugees back as they try to enter a registration center on that greek island. people continue to go arrive in europe by greece. despite the fact that land borders have been closed. at one point on wednesday ten small points carrying refugees to lesbos in just a half hour.

we know that most serving for safety in europe are from syria. but bashar al-assad said that europe is to blame for the crisis for supporting rebel groups that he describes as terrorists. he said that the added pressure will not make him quit his job. >> europe is bearing the responsibility, and it supported and continues to support to cover up terrorism. they are all extremists. afteafter the president, he comes to power with an election. if he leaves, it's not because of adjustments of the united states, the united nations, the geneva conference or geneva communique. if the president is wanted to stay then he should stay. >> a reminder from greece, this

crisis does not concern just major league europe but all the borders with europe. >> yes, yes, it does. as well as being in hungary. we thought--you asked the colleagues of the refugees and the refugee organizations in belgrade tell us that more than 65% of the refugees are of syrian o origin. we can see them living in the streets who were families. there were some single people, young people as well, but over the majority of them were families. lots of young children and some elderly as well. >> most syrian families have been told if you're syrian you will be able to have asylum in germany. that's the reason why they're heading mostly from greece traveling up and through these central european countries to try to get to germany. because as far as they're concerned that's where they will be safe.

>> that's right. it is because germany has offered them--that is why they want to go to germany. i just can't understand, earlier we spoke about hungary. i think it's going too far in the way that it is dealing with matters. the people, they're experiencing hungary has not been very good. we witnessed a lot of obstacles that are unnecessarily placed in people's path. >> do you think that europe now will for want of a better phrase man up and do something? we know they're saying look, what you're doing at the moment is not acceptable. >> i think europe should take its responsibility. we have a moral and legal responsibility. europe as a whole. once people have entered europe, all of europe, all of the european union has

responsibilities. possibly even legal. so yes, we should--we in the u.k. should participate more in discussions on how to deal with this issue. >> very good to have you with us. thank you for your time. >> thank you. >> just want to show you these latest pictures that we're getting in from the serbia serbian-hungarian border. this was after they fired tear gas at refugees. who they say were trying to break through the border fence, which has been closed since monday night. hungary sent 20 of the police officers and two children were hurd. [ crying ] >> clearly a number of averages trying to wash out the effects of the tear gas fired by the hungarian police. we'll be back. do stay with us.

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>> there have been arrests elsewhere in europe and clashes with riot police in the greek island of lesbos. >> scathing report in scree lan can's civi