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At least ten migrants from Iran are on a hunger strike and have sewed up their mouths in protest against the ban to cross the Greek-Macedonian border.

Photo: EPA/Georgi Licovski

About 1,000 migrants of different nationalities are in the neutral zone between the two countries, who are not allowed to be there. They are shouting protest slogans and calling for the lifting of the ban.

Photo: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos

While waiting to be allowed to cross the border, the migrants are spending the nights in tents, in harsh conditions, as the cold is more than palpable, especially during the evening and at night.

Photo: Reuters/Yannis Behrakis

However, yesterday and earlier today, some of the migrants stripped topless in protest against the ban.

Photo: kathimerini.gr

"Refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria are crossing the border quickly," representative of the Greek representation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Alexandros Voulgaris told the Athens News Agency. He added that despite the border crossing ban, migrants of other nationalities are provided with information on the procedures for asylum. "Among them there may be people who need protection as refugees," he said.

Photo: Reuters/Yannis Behrakis

Those migrants who cannot cross the border and want to return to Athens can do so by bus, the fare for which is 50 euro. Many of the non-profit organizations that are in the temporary stay camp are protesting against the fare, calling for its reduction.

According to the official data that were disseminated yesterday, the number of refugees and migrants in Idomeni has decreased after Macedonia's decision to accept on its territory only Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis. Hundreds of migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries are already looking for other routes to go to Western Europe.