Slovenia's prime minister says his country has asked the European Commission for 60 million euros ($68 million) over six months to aid the handling of thousands of migrants passing through.

Miro Cerar said on public broadcaster TV Slovenia late Thursday that apart from financial aid, Slovenia has also requested police gear and personnel from the EU. He says several countries already have offered to send police with Slovenia's force stretched to the limits.

Cerar said that 13,000 newcomers entering the small Balkan nation of 2 million in one day is as if half a million would enter Germany.

Nearly 50,000 migrants have entered Slovenia since Hungary closed its border with Croatia Saturday and migrants turned to the Alpine nation for a new passage to Western Europe.

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Thousands of migrants, including small children, have spent the night out in the open in near-freezing cold waiting to cross the Serbian border with Croatia.

A U.N. refugee agency field officer said Friday about 5,000 migrants were stuck at the muddy crossing overnight because Croatian police temporarily closed the border passage.

Maher Is'haqat, a Protection Officer from the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees says "it was a very cold night." He says the migrants were obliged to stay at the crossing overnight.

People have been lighting fires and using blankets and tents to warm up. Croatian police have been letting in smaller groups since early in the morning.

Since Hungary closed its border with Croatia to migrants on Saturday, they now travel from Croatia to Slovenia on their way toward northern Europe.