Thousands stranded in Greece

Macedonian authorities on Wednesday allowed some 250 asylum seekers from Syria and Iraq to cross its border with Greece at the Idomeni crossing, Greek officials said.

Thousands of migrants, many fleeing war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, have been stranded in Idomeni by Macedonia's decision to allow passage to only a handful of asylum seekers with identification papers from Syria and Iraq.

Wednesday marked the first time in two days that refugees were allowed to cross the frontier following an incident in which Macedonian police fired tear gas at protesting migrants attempting to force their way through the border fence.

Macedonian authorities have defended their stance.

"Our daily admittance of migrants will depend on how many will be accepted in EU countries," said Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski. "It is very important to secure humane treatment and admit these people, but it's no less important that we protect the Macedonian citizens and police."

UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Flemming said on Wednesday that the decision taken by Macedonia and other European countries to limit the migration flow has resulted in some 25,000 people stranded in Greece.

Fleming warned of a "looming humanitarian crisis" as around 1,800 people reach Greece daily from Turkey by undertaking a perilous journey across the Aegean Sea.

'Europe will be there to assist them'

Skopje's latest move to allow a handful of migrants continue their way towards Germany, Sweden and other richer EU nations comes as European Council President Donald Tusk called for the restoration of the Schengen passport-free travel zone.

"There is no doubt we need to restore Schengen," he said. "It will cost money, take time and require a huge political effort. There will be countries that may not be able to cope with this challenge.

"But Europe will be there to assist them. We need to invest in Schengen, not in its collapse," Tusk said, adding that it will be one of the issues at a March 7 meeting of European leaders with Turkish officials.

Tusk also said Europe's priorities should be stemming the flow of migration and helping Greece and Macedonia cope with the thousands of migrants there.

He added that EU member states should "refuse entry to third-country nationals who do not meet the necessary conditions or who, although they were able to do so earlier, did not apply for asylum."

Earlier Wednesday EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides said the European Commission is preparing a proposal to earmark 700 million euros ($760 million) in humanitarian aid for EU countries impacted by the wave of migration.

ls/sms (AP, Reuters, AFP)