German Chancellor Angela Merkel has blamed European nations for "unilaterally" shutting the Balkan route for migrants. According to Greek authorities, the number of refugees and migrants stranded in Greece has reached 42,000.

Many of these migrants pass through the port of Piraeus as they come in from the Greek islands.

Nuala McGovern spoke to one woman, Rabaa, who travelled from the Syrian town of Hama with her three children after it became too dangerous to stay.

She asked for her identity to be protected.