Refugee Crisis in Greece and the Balkans
 

So watching last night's news I'm seeing border posts being stormed on the Greek border. Do any of you know if the refugee situation has had any tangible impact on travel in the area?

Obviously I've had the scaremongering from the usual quarters, concerned friends, family members and colleagues who think I'll end up a radical Jihadi or with a small family unit hiding in my panniers. Obviously I've dismissed their reactionary silliness, I'm going almost no matter what, but it would be good to know what really except - from delays at the border to any security concerns.

No doubt I'll get vastly better information here than from the scaremongering press!

I'd note that this isn't the place to discuss the morality of the situation, that's only likely to lead to frayed nerves!

I have found this news outlet to be quite factual, although it may not get into your specific detail.
Greece News | Greek News | Greece.com

For now it is ok, unless you are traveling without passport.:innocent:
Border crossing points are trouble free.
I would just avoid stops the first couple kilometers after entering into Greece from Gevgelija ( first gas station on the main road is ... hmm...lets say crowded). But, so far, no accidents have been reported on that area.
No need to change your plan.
Petre

A pass-what? Not sure I know what one of those is...

Best up to date source would be the country's travel & tourism dept, travel websites as many give feedback and check out the sources on the EU homepage..


Sent from my MoJ mobile tagging device

Border Info updates
 

Hi Mates ,Its very difficult to find updated info in the "country's travel & tourism depts websites". We will be riding in a couple weeks into Greece,Turkey,Iran,Armenia,Georgia,and going back to Spain crossing the Balkans and was almopst impossible to find any info out of the tv news!!!
So if any one are updated with that please help:helpsmilie:
Pedro

Two weeks!
If you keep up with the news you will soon see that the situation changes by the hour so wanting to crystal ball something that may be three weeks into the future is going to be pretty much a waste of time.

I spent many years of my working career with the Red Cross, providing war relief (food, medical aid, medical evacuations, etc.) in countries that were in the midst of internal or multinational conflicts.

What I learned in those years is that when people have fled from a conflict area due to economic or safety concerns, their survival enroute (between where they have left, and the destination they seek for eventual sanctuary) becomes very tenuous. There is a real risk of not being able to find food, not being able to remain safe from attack, not being able to protect vulnerable (older or younger) members of a family.

In such situations, even the most honourable and principled person will resort to 'doing whatever it takes' to stay alive, stay fed, and stay safe. This may include resorting to theft or robbery.

Local authorities are often overwhelmed by large inflows of migrants, and the normal 'law and order' process often breaks down because the migrants are not familiar with the norms & customs of the new location, and the authorities are not familiar with (or sympathetic to) the norms and customs of the migrating group.

Based on my experience, I think it would be wise for those of us who are travelling for recreational purposes to try and avoid areas with large concentrations of migrants, most especially when the migrant flow has been bottled up and frustrated in their attempts to keep moving.

If you can't avoid passing through an area with a large concentration of stagnant migrants, then plan to pass through the area and get away from it as inconspicuously and efficiently as possible. Don't hang around, don't stop to smell the roses, don't stop to gawk. Most especially, resist the temptation to stop and 'try and help' one or more individuals, because you could rapidly find yourself inundated by many more individuals who are equally desperate and in need of help.

Michael

The only Greek border crossing that is troubled right now is Idomeni (map) because there is a big refugee concentration now.

Greece-Turkey, Greece-Bulgaria, and Greece-Albania are trouble free for the time being.

Since yesterday, refugees/migrants started with road blocs near the border on Idomeni and on the official border crossing point. Road has been blocked for about an hour. Today, they are again on the road.
Some humanitarian organizations moved away from the camp because of rised tensions.
For anyone looking to enter into Greece from Macedonia, maybe is better to use two others border crossings: Dojran/Doirani and Medzitlija/Niki.
Petre

I just came back from a trip around Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey.


Except for Turkey being empty with tourists, there is nothing special. The only border crossing that was busy, was busy with locals rushing to the sea. I'm talking about the Makaza crossing from Bulgaria to Greece. All the rest was normal.

Interesting - I came through the Makaza border from Greece to Bulgaria two days ago and all the traffic was queueing northbound. About 2 miles queue, though of course I just rode straight round it all.

There were quite a few people on foot at the border itself.

Was the first border I’ve been stopped and had my passport checked at for a long time, except when entering my own stupid country (UK) of course!

Rachel

Hi Rachel_Norfolk,

Are you still riding around Europe at the moment? I'm about to leave the Middle East aiming for Greece then through Europe to the UK. Do you have an update on security? I'm assuming that with a bit of common sense its all okay (apart form Calais after dark).