UN agency: Over 3 thousand refugees crossed Macedonian border in 24 hours

The United Nations' refugee agency Thursday estimated that around 3,500 refugees crossed into Macedonia from Greece in the past 24 hours.

According to the data from UNHCR, the refugees were transported in five trains from the Macedonian border town of Gevgelija to the northern town of Tabanovce on the Serbian border.

Refugees are crossing into Macedonia in groups under tight police control and then sent to reception centers where they are processed.

Melita Sunjic, spokeswoman for the UNHCR in the Western Balkans, on Tuesday issued a warning that nearly 7,000 refugees were expected to cross the Greek-Macedonian border this weekend.

"We heard from our colleagues in Greece that this weekend about 150 busses will get here. This means more than seven thousand people. So, we need to be prepared. Since the beginning of the crisis the number of refugees increases to double. Now we have about 3,000-3,200 refugees a day," said Sunjic.

The teams of the Red Cross, the UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in Macedonia provide the necessary assistance for the refugees waiting to be transferred by trains.