Refugees have taken over one side of a Hungarian motorway in Budapest in a desperate attempt to reach Austria and Germany.
Thousands are reported walking the length of the M1, in response to being denied access to trains leaving for western Europe.
The poignant scenes come in the wake of the disturbing images of Aylan Kurdi, a child fleeing war-torn Syria, who drowned and washed up on the shores of a Turkish beach this week.
Journalists have taken to social media to report the mass move and have been live tweeting the march.
Some of the refugees are clutching European Union flags.
James Mates reported that there's very little water - and many children are marching.
Hungarian police are struggling to deal with the wave of people walking as many as 20 wide across the hard shoulder.
Locals are lining the roads to give water to the crowds, walking in the baking heat.
The refugees are taking extreme measures to leave Hungary for many reasons.
Far-right groups are becoming increasingly powerful in the Hungarian Parliament, whichadding to a hostile public attitude towards refugees.
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The shortest route towards Austria could take the refugees up to 41 hours to walk and is a total of 202km.
Arwa Damon confirms the direction that they are heading.
This week more than 2,000 refugees were forced to camp outside Budapest's Keleti station, awaiting permission to travel west.
In contrast to Hungary, other European countries, such as Germany, have been more welcoming.
Last month, Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “There can be no tolerance of those who question the dignity of other people. There is no tolerance of those who are not ready to help, where, for legal and humanitarian reasons, help is due.”
Hungary protests
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Migrants walk along the Hegyalja Street in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Several thousand migrants left the Keleti railway station in Budapest this afternoon heading for Germany on foot. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP) ) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A large group of asylum-seekers walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A large group of asylum-seekers walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A large group of asylum-seekers walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A large group of asylum-seekers walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A large group of asylum-seekers walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Hundreds of migrants cross the river Danube in Budapest, Friday Sept, 4, 2015, after they decided to walk toward Austria. Thousands have been camped out at Budapest's Keleti train station for days, before they decided to try and reach their destination on foot. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Hundreds of migrants cross the river Danube in Budapest, Friday Sept, 4, 2015, after they decided to walk toward Austria. Thousands have been camped out at Budapest's Keleti train station for days, before they decided to try and reach their destination on foot. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Migrants thread their way through a police blockade as they walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Asylum-seekers cross the Danube as they start to walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A migrant holds an EU flag as hundreds of migrants walk on a road after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany. AFP PHOTO / FERENC ISZA (Photo credit should read FERENC ISZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FERENC ISZA via Getty Images)
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Migrants thread their way through a police blockade as they walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Migrants cross the Danube as they out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Migrants thread their way through a police blockade as they walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Migrants hold hands as they walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A disabled migrant wearing a poster of German Chancellor Angela Merkel on his neck as hundreds of migrants walk on a highway after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany. AFP PHOTO / FERENC ISZA (Photo credit should read FERENC ISZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FERENC ISZA via Getty Images)
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A migrant holds an EU flag as police cordons hundreds of migrants walking after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany. AFP PHOTO / FERENC ISZA (Photo credit should read FERENC ISZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FERENC ISZA via Getty Images)
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A migrant holds an EU flag as hundreds of migrants walk on a road after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany. AFP PHOTO / FERENC ISZA (Photo credit should read FERENC ISZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FERENC ISZA via Getty Images)
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Hundreds of migrants walk across Budapest after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany. AFP PHOTO / PETER KOHALMI (Photo credit should read PETER KOHALMI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER KOHALMI via Getty Images)
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Hundreds of migrants walk on a highway after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany.AFP PHOTO / FERENC ISZA (Photo credit should read FERENC ISZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FERENC ISZA via Getty Images)
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A migrant girl lifts a poster with a picture of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as hundreds of migrants walk across Budapest after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany. AFP PHOTO / PETER KOHALMI (Photo credit should read PETER KOHALMI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER KOHALMI via Getty Images)
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Hundreds of migrants walking across Budapest after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany. AFP PHOTO / PETER KOHALMI (Photo credit should read PETER KOHALMI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER KOHALMI via Getty Images)
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Hundreds of migrants walk after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station, on September 4, 2015 intenting on walking to the Austrian border. They were part of an estimated 2,000 migrants stuck in makeshift refugee camps at Keleti station, after railway authorities had blocked them from boarding trains to Austria and Germany.AFP PHOTO / FERENC ISZA (Photo credit should read FERENC ISZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FERENC ISZA via Getty Images)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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Migrants start to walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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Migrants hold hands as they walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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Migrants walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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A large group of asylum-seekers walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
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A large group of asylum-seekers walk out of Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year, most coming through the southern border with Serbia, and many apply for asylum but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)