The United Nations' refugee agency, the UNHCR, has condemned the use of tear gas by Macedonian police against refugees along its border with Greece. The agency's spokesman, Adrian Edwards said their actions have damaged the image of Europe. He urged the migrants to voluntarily move to sites being put in place by the Greek government.

"We really do regret having seen this happening, once again, on a European border, involving refugees and people fleeing war. And in this environment of building tension, where we had the kind of incidents we had at Idomeni and at the border just yesterday, there is a risk of us seeing further incidents like this until there are better solutions for the population up there at the border and in other parts of Greece too," said Adrian Edwards, UNHCR spokesman.

Greece accused Macedonia of shaming the continent by using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the migrants who tried to breach their border, and called on the EU and the UN to make a stand. However, a spokesman for Macedonia said the mobs attacked first, and its forces tried to break up the protest with tear gas, and not bullets. He also said no migrants had crossed to the Macedonian side.