Refugee Crisis Grows

The latest developments as European governments struggle to cope with tens of thousands of people trekking across Europe to find safety. All times local:

 

3:55 p.m.

 

Authorities in some parts of Germany have waived housing standards to cope with an unprecedented influx of migrants this year.

 

An Associated Press survey has found that at least three of Germany’s 16 states have lowered their requirements for refugee shelters, including for the minimum amount of space given to each refugee. Six states had no minimum requirements or said it was up to inspectors to approve conditions on a case-by-case basis. Two didn’t respond.

 

Rights groups warned Tuesday that overcrowding is causing stress in refugee shelters, citing a mass brawl between up to 400 residents at one refugee tent city last weekend.

 

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has dismissed their concerns, saying “we can’t offer any luxury and we don’t want to offer any luxury.”

 

3:30 p.m.

 

Croatia’s prime minister has criticized his Hungarian counterpart, saying that Budapest’s wish to build a fence between the two European Union countries will not stop tens of thousands of asylum-seekers from crossing their territories to head to wealthier EU nations like Germany.

 

Croatia’s Zoran Milanovic chided the move by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday, calling his fence plan a threat to their common values.

 

Read More: Refugee Crisis Grows – US News