Thousands of refugees and migrants making their way along the Balkan route through Europe this winter are at risk of life-threatening hypothermia, aid groups warn.
Temperatures along portions of the route into western Europe plummeted below -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 Celcius) on Tuesday. With little to protect them against the elements, the huge population of people is one of the most at-risk anywhere in Europe.
Children are arriving at border crossings with blue lips and shivering from the cold, according to Save the Children, after hours spent out in the elements. Many families are forced to sleep rough as they make their way to their final destinations.
The charity group is one of many that have been working to provide aid to the refugees and migrants in Europe, and issued a statement Tuesday, saying that more must be done to keep this vulnerable population safe and healthy through the winter months.
Border closures and moves by European nations to stem the flow of migrants mean that people are often stuck out in the cold for hours.
UPDATE: It dropped to -9 last night at #Idomeni. Now its pouring, the border is closed, 11 buses wait and we still cant use our tents...— MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) January 20, 2016
Save the Children is currently running a shelter at the Presevo border crossing in Serbia where mothers and babies, and children who are traveling alone can stay for the night. The group regularly hands out warm clothes, rain jackets, socks, shoes and hot drinks to help ease the cold.
Children, who are most at risk, are arriving at reception centres with high fevers and respiratory problems, according to Save the Children staff.
Before temperatures dropped, the most treacherous part of the journey for most was the sea crossing from Turkey into Europe. Packed onto unseaworthy boats and rubber dinghies, the refugees risked capsizing and drowning.
The winter weather has now added new elements of risk to the already dangerous journey. From the moment the refugees and migrants step ashore on the Greek island of Lesvos, often soaking from the surf, they face freezing temperatures.
Stormy and freezing cold again on #Lesvos. Even some snow. 3 boats arrived here today already. Pic by @kaupp_david pic.twitter.com/YdoIOOv27t— Refugee Support (@refugee_supp) January 20, 2016
Aid workers warn that as countries move to lock down their borders, people spend more time stuck in the cold.
“Instead of focusing on closing their borders, Europe’s government should be doing more to give people fleeing war a dignified and humane reception,” said Save the Children worker Valentia Bollenback, who is currently in Presevo.
Thousands of refugees and migrants pass through this area daily, spending hours in the cold waiting for trains and buses, or walking for miles in freezing conditions.
Waiting for train in #presevo #serbia #refugees and #crying #babies #freezing #winter A photo posted by Liene Veide (@lieneveide) on Jan 20, 2016 at 8:20am PST
More than 1 million migrants and refugees made their way to Europe in 2015, and the movement of people across the continent has continued through the winter.
In the first 20 days of 2016 alone, more than 31,000 people made their way across the Mediterranean into Europe according to statistics from UNHCR. At least 87 people died along the way. The vast majority of those people, about 85%, are refugees.