Hungary will use inmates from its prisons to build a controversial fence that aims to prevent illegal migrant crossings along its border with Serbia, state media reported Thursday, according to dpa. Interior Minister Sandor Pintor said prisoners will prepare material for the "temporary" fence, which will be erected with the help of 900 soldiers, MTI news agency reported. The fence, which will stretch 175 kilometres and stand four metres high, is expected to be finished by November 30, Pintor was quoted as saying. Construction will take place at 10-12 locations along the border. Total costs for the structure have been estimated at 6.5 billion forint (about 21 million euros). More than 81,000 migrants have illegally entered Hungary this year, double the number seen last year and nearly all of them from Serbia, Pintor said. According to the UN's refugee relief organization, 80 per cent of migrants arriving in Hungary generally want to seek asylum in Western Europe rather than stay in Hungary.
