Twist In Refugee Situation As Hungary Warns Migrants

Times of Israel | International

Hungary posts ads in Lebanon, Jordan warning off migrants

As Syria’s neighbors struggle to cope with millions of refugees fleeing the country’s four-year-old civil war and Europe re-introduces border checks, Hungary has taken a different step to warn new and intending travelers to think again.

Media reports say the Hungarian government ads placed in different Lebanese and Jordanian papers Monday, warned migrants not to enter Hungary illegally, saying it is a crime punishable by imprisonment.

The terse statement (above) published as a full-page announcement in several newspapers, Hungary warns that the strongest possible action is taken saying:

In this photo dated February 11, 2013, Syrian refugees sit in a tent
at a refugee camp in the town of Nizip in Gaziantep
province, southeast Turkey. (Credit: Reuters).

"Hungarians are hospitable, but the strongest possible action is taken against those who attempt to enter Hungary illegally."

The statement said: "The illegal crossing of the country's border is a crime punishable by imprisonment," and advising that they "Do not listen to the people smugglers."

"Hungary will not allow illegal immigrants to cross its territory," it said emphatically.

It was inserted in several newspapers including Lebanon’s leading An-Nahar and Jordan’s Al-Rai, and repeated in both English and Arabic.

According to a report in the Times of Israel, Lebanon, a country of around 4.5 million people, already has over 1.1 million Syrian refugees.

Jordan, with a population of 6.5 million, also already has about 630,000, many of them desire to move on and some have already shown readiness to migrate to Europe because of dwindling aid and work opportunities.