World Vision statement: Attacks on refugees on the Serbia-Hungary border unacceptable

World Vision UK has today described the use teargas and water cannons to disperse refugee on the Serbia-Hungarian border as “appalling” and “unacceptable”.

Gavin Crowden, World Vision UK’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs said: “Every country has the right and power to patrol its own borders, but this kind of heavy-handed and aggressive response we are seeing on the Serbia-Hungarian border is not only appalling - it is unacceptable. 

“It cannot be right that children who have walked for weeks on end to flee violence and bombs in Syria are being met with barbed wire and teargas in Europe. These children need safety and shelter. All countries – and European ones are no exception - have a duty to protect people fleeing conflict and persecution. This situation further underlines why a coherent European plan to address this refugee crisis – the worst since World War II – is urgently needed,” Crowden explained.

Refugees were this afternoon forced to try a new route through Croatia into northern Europe on as Hungarian police fired tear gas at asylum seeking people on the Serbian border.

Throughout today, World Vision teams were distributing aid at a camp in Horgos on the Serbia-Hungary border, where thousands of desperate refugees are stationed. 

“There has been a growing sense of frustration in Horgos. In the past twenty-four hours, families have been arriving rapidly and they are getting more desperate than ever. Some are living in tents while others are out in the open,” said Joy Toose, World Vision’s Rapid Response team member based in Serbia. 

 “The situation is critical and World Vision is prioritising supporting families with children, but even so there are more people in need of food and water and we do not have the sufficient resources,” she added.

The charity has been supporting parents and carers of young children in the Serbian camps, with “family packs” that contain basic items such as diapers, baby cream, baby soap, wet wipes, a toy, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, shampoo; cotton swabs; as well as sanitary pads for mothers. 

To support World Vision’s Refugee Crisis appeal, please call 0800 088 088 or visit our website