Until recently, few refugees chose poverty-stricken Albania as a pit stop on their perilous trek towards wealthy EU countries. But with the so-called western Balkan migrant trail now shut, the number of Syrians arriving in Albania is on the rise. Migrants are “trying to find new paths to get to European Union countries” after nations along the route up from Turkey and Greece significantly increased their border security, interior ministry spokesman Ardi Bide told AFP. Instead of going through Macedonia and Serbia, people attempt to reach the EU via some of the poorest member states including Bulgaria and Albania. Although authorities have not released official data on asylum requests, police said they have blocked 2,300 people at the Albanian border since the start of the year. For many, “Albania is now the only solution for refugees to move on,” said Syrian Guwan Belei. The 28-year-old arrived in mid-June in Albania’s only migrant reception centre, located in the capital Tirana. Some 200 migrants currently stay at the 180-bed facility. Belei has applied for asylum here but does not hide that for him “like for others, Albania is now a gateway in contrast to Serbia and Macedonia, which have closed their borders”. “Many prefer to seek political asylum in Albania because during the proceedings it leaves them time to find solutions to move to Montenegro and Bosnia, and from there get to Germany, Denmark or another country,” the 28-year-old told AFP. Germany has become one of asylum-seekers’ favoured destinations since Chancellor Angela… [Read full story]
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