One step away from state of emergency: Hungarian army preparing for confrontation with unarmed refugees

The Hungarian army has begun exercises to prepare for a possible intervention on the southern border, which is the most frequent target for refugees trying to reach wealthier European countries through Hungary, writes the BBC, reports the Patria News Agency.

Budapest plans to send the army to assist the police at the border, where new barbed wire is already being installed. Although 175 kilometers of fence have already been erected along the entire border with Serbia, additional barriers are being built along the entire border. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán himself is accelerating construction, as previous measures have not prevented thousands of people from entering the country.

"Everyone must be prepared for hard work in the coming weeks," Orbán told the Hungarian media.

Several thousand refugees are moving from Serbia to Hungary daily.

"Our job is to defend Hungary," said Hungarian General Tibor Benkő. The actions of the Hungarian authorities have been condemned by human rights organizations. Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the "militarization of the border is the wrong response".

The Hungarian parliament is expected to vote on stricter border controls this month, which would reduce the entry of refugees into the country. 

Meanwhile, the authorities in Budapest announced that they expect 40,000 new refugees in the coming days.

The Hungarian Ministry of Interior has proposed declaring a "state of emergency due to mass migration" to take effect on September 15, based on laws passed last week, the head of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's cabinet announced on Thursday, writes Index.