More than 22,000 migrants have been left stranded in Greece after a cap on border crossings by Balkan countries ‘trapped’ them in the country. The figure could triple to 70,000 next week, the Greek government warned yesterday.

The city’s former international airport has been converted into a huge migrant centre. The ‘arrivals hall’ holds 1,500 people (Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis).

A hockey stadium immediately behind the building, built for the 2004 Athens Olympics, houses 1,500 (Somalians, Libyans, Moroccans and Yemenis).

Many 400 migrants from Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, but mainly Afghanistan have occupied Platia Victoria Square. Locals call it ‘Afghanistan Square’.

Only a small number of Syrians and Iraqis are being allowed through each day. Afghans are being refused (the war in Afghanistan is ‘officially over’, so, in the eyes of Macedonia, Afghans no longer have to be treated as refugees, even though the country remains one of the most dangerous places on earth).

Around 2,000 migrants, are arriving in Greece every day. In a recent poll, conducted by respected Greek think-tank Dianeosis, as many people blamed the EU for the refugee crisis as the political instability in the Middle East.

Last night, the migrants of Platia Victoria held a peaceful protest in the square.

Children held up placards with slogans such as ‘No Food, No Water’, ‘Afghans Are Human’ and ‘Please Open the Borders’.

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