Mar 16, 2016

The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonia border. The closure, following the lead taken by neighboring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain.

: Pakistani migrants protest outside the Moria hot spot at the island of Lesbos against the expulsion of 50 Pakistanis back to Turkey on March 16, 2016. European leaders scrambled Wednesday to salvage an under-fire deal with Turkey to ease the migrant crisis with a round of shuttle diplomacy on the eve of a crunch summit. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

: A woman and her child disembarks from a Norwegian Frontex vessel at the port of Mytilene in the island of Lesbos , on March 16, 2016. The Nowergian vessel saved some 250 refugees and migrants who attempted the perilous crossing from Turkey to the Greek island on Lesbos European leaders scrambled Wednesday to salvage an under-fire deal with Turkey to ease the migrant crisis with a round of shuttle diplomacy on the eve of a crunch summit. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

: Children play with NGO workers at a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni, on March 16, 2016, where thousands of refugees and migrants are stranded by the Balkan border blockade. Some 1,500 migrants who managed to cross into Macedonia, despite the border being closed to them for a week, have been sent back to Greece by Macedonian troops, officials said on March 15. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images)

: Young boys play with a can near tents lined up at a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni, on March 16, 2016, where thousands of refugees and migrants are stranded by the Balkan border blockade. Some 1,500 migrants who managed to cross into Macedonia, despite the border being closed to them for a week, have been sent back to Greece by Macedonian troops, officials said on March 15. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man has his hair cut at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: A Syrian boy looks at the camera as people cook outside at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: A man sits on his bunk bed inside a accommodation tent at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: A barber gives a man a haircut at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: A family stand besides their fire at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: Men gather around a fire at the railway station at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: People sit besides a fire as a train passes at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: People wait for food aid at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: People sit besides a fire as a train passes at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: Washing is left out to dry at the railway station at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: People receive food aid at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: A family walks through camp fire smoke at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: Tents are seen pitched in mud at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: A man in a wheelchair is helped through the mud at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: People scramble for supplies being delivered by car at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: People scramble for supplies being delivered by car at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: A family drinks tea inside their tent at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border on March 16, 2016 in Idomeni, Greece. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants last week has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp. The closure, following the lead taken by neighbouring countries, has effectively sealed the so-called western Balkan route, the main migration route that has been used by hundreds of thousands of migrants to reach countries in western Europe such as Germany. Humanitarian workers have described the conditions at the camp as desperate, which has been made much worse by recent spells of heavy rain. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

: A man holds a banner near tents set up near railway tracks at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Leaders of the EU’s 28 divided nations plan to reconvene in Brussels this week in hopes of ironing out disagreements on a proposed agreement with Turkey in the migrants crisis. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

: A migrant gives a haircut to another in a makeshift camp at the northern Greek border post of Idomeni, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Hundreds of migrants and refugees walked out Monday of an overcrowded camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, determined to use a dangerous crossing to head north but were returned to Greece. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

: A woman holds a little girl who’s head band covers her eyes at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Leaders of the EU’s 28 divided nations plan to reconvene in Brussels this week in hopes of ironing out disagreements on a proposed agreement with Turkey in the migrants crisis. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

: A baby of a migrant family cries in a tent at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Leaders of the EU’s 28 divided nations plan to reconvene in Brussels this week in hopes of ironing out disagreements on a proposed agreement with Turkey in the migrants crisis. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

: Refugee children sit in a stroller in a makeshift camp at the northern Greek border post of Idomeni, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Hundreds of migrants and refugees walked out Monday of an overcrowded camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, determined to use a dangerous crossing to head north but were returned to Greece. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Migrants running out of options as borders remain closed

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