In search of a new life

In search of a new life

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Wading through a few metres of freezing water, a Kosovar man carries his baby across the border from Serbia into Hungary.

The young Balkan country is witnessing a dramatic surge in the number of its citizens smuggling themselves into Hungary to reach the European Union.

The vast majority are fleeing poverty, unemployment or low-paid labour for the more affluent countries of Western Europe, a new wave following those who ran from repression and war in the 1990s.

. ASOTTHALOM, Hungary. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

The exodus is fuelled by widespread poverty, unemployment and stubborn corruption, seven years after Kosovo seceded from Serbia. It has coincided with a period of political turbulence and unrest since an election last summer.

Authorities, however, are at a loss to explain the sudden jump in numbers since September. Migrants suggest smugglers have found safer routes across the border, and word of mouth has triggered an exodus.

In just one month this year 10,000 Kosovars filed for asylum in neighbouring Hungary, compared to 6,000 in the whole of 2013.

. PRISTINA, Kosovo. REUTERS/Hazir Reka

Aided by a relaxation of entry rules to former master Serbia, families travel by bus for 15 euros per person to the Serbian capital, Belgrade, then again by bus to the northern town of Subotica, from where they take a taxi to the border and walk across, through a water-filled ditch and then kilometres of forest.

"All these people, all from Kosovo because the economy is poor," said migrant Malsor Sadiku, part of a group of between 40 and 45 Kosovars. "No jobs, no money; we decide to go out from Kosovo and look for a job and better life," he said while making the walk to Asotthalom.

. ASOTTHALOM, Hungary. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

The impact of the migration is acutely felt in the northern Kosovar town of Vushtrri, which faces being devastated. Its population has shrunk seven percent in the space of a few months. More than 400 children have been pulled from the town's schools, 5,000 Kosovo-wide.

Bajram Abazi has lost half his workforce in little over a month, claimed by the sudden surge in emigration.

"It's becoming the culture – everyone else is going, so we should too," said Abazi, owner of the Be Commerce biscuit factory.

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Slideshow

Kosovars board buses headed for Serbia, in the capital Pristina.
. PRISTINA, Kosovo. REUTERS/Hazir Reka

Kosovars board buses headed for Serbia, in the capital Pristina.

Serbian border police stop Kosovars, who are trying to cross the border to Hungary, as they walk in a field near the town of Subotica, near the Serbian-Hungarian border.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Serbian border police stop Kosovars, who are trying to cross the border to Hungary, as they walk in a field near the town of Subotica, near the Serbian-Hungarian border.

A Serbian border policeman escorts Kosovars, who were trying to cross the border to Hungary.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

A Serbian border policeman escorts Kosovars, who were trying to cross the border to Hungary.

A group of Kosovars stand near the road, after being detained by Serbian border police while trying to cross the border to Hungary.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

A group of Kosovars stand near the road, after being detained by Serbian border police while trying to cross the border to Hungary.

A Serbian border policeman collects documents from a group of Kosovars, after they were detained while trying to cross the border to Hungary.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

A Serbian border policeman collects documents from a group of Kosovars, after they were detained while trying to cross the border to Hungary.

Kosovars, who were trying to cross the border to Hungary are detained by Serbian border police.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Kosovars, who were trying to cross the border to Hungary are detained by Serbian border police.

A Serbian border policeman checks a Kosovar man after he was detained while trying to cross the border to Hungary.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

A Serbian border policeman checks a Kosovar man after he was detained while trying to cross the border to Hungary.

Kosovars wait in a police station after they were detained while trying to cross the border to Hungary.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Kosovars wait in a police station after they were detained while trying to cross the border to Hungary.

Kosovars wait in a police station after they were detained while trying to cross the border to Hungary.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Kosovars wait in a police station after they were detained while trying to cross the border to Hungary.

A Kosovo man carries his baby as he crosses the Hungarian-Serbian border.
. ASOTTHALOM, Hungary. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

A Kosovo man carries his baby as he crosses the Hungarian-Serbian border.

A Kosovar boy cries after he crossed the border with his family.
. ASOTTHALOM, Hungary. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

A Kosovar boy cries after he crossed the border with his family.

A Kosovar woman holds her child as they warm up around an open fire in Hungary.
. ASOTTHALOM, Hungary. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

A Kosovar woman holds her child as they warm up around an open fire in Hungary.

A group of Kosovars walk along a road after crossing the Hungarian-Serbian border.
. ASOTTHALOM, Hungary. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

A group of Kosovars walk along a road after crossing the Hungarian-Serbian border.