The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo Period: 13.03.2017– 26.03.2017

The two weeks report on the situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo includes the following topics: Available facilities and conditions at the camp and Institutional treatment. The report can be downloaded at the following link.

Gevgelija

Available facilities and conditions

The number of refugees in the camp, who were 8 at the start of the week, increased to 16 by the end of the week, after several groups that were admitted, stayed in the camp for some time.

The children in the camp were given shoes by the Humanitarian Organization Legis.

On 24.03.2017, a group of students from Germany paid a visit to the camp.

The refugees from the camp were taken for an outing accompanied by the Red Cross.

In the course of these two weeks, representatives of the international organizations, UNHCR and Caritas, paid a visit to the camp, as well as a delegation from FRONTEX.

Institutional treatment

On 18.03.2017, a refugee originating from Morocco was brough to the camp accompanied by the police. According to him, it was the first time he was trying to transit through Macedonia. He arrived in Macedonia three days before together with a friend and they had reached Gradsko on foot. In the vicinity of Gradsko they were attacked by a group of four, according to him, Macedonian citizens. One of them had a gun and made them hand in all their money. He managed to escape, whereby he went from Gradsko to the Railway Station in Gevgelija by train. After he was interviewed and provided with medical and humanitarian aid, he was transported to Greek territory.

On the same day, during a routine check of a cargo train transporting goods from Turkey to Skopje, nine people originating from Afghanistan were found in the truck trailer. The group consisted of one individual and two families, 6 of whom were juvenile persons. They had started their journey in Turkey, and were promised by the smugglers that the train would take them to Italy, whereby each one of them had paid 6000 USD, apart from one 4-year-old child, who they charged 3000 USD for. None of them had passports with them. After they were given medical and humanitarian aid, they were admitted to the camp and were provided with accommodation. How long they will stay there is unknown.

On 19.03.2017, 6 refugees originating from Iran were brought to the camp, who had returned from Belgrade, Serbia, at their own request. After they were interviewed, they were given accommodation in the camp. On the following day they were transported to Greece

4 persons originating from Iran were brought to the camp on 21.03.2017, on their way back to Greece from Serbia at their own request. The refugees were interviewed and were subjected to detailed search of their personal belongings by the security services. Several hours later they were transported to Greece.

On 24.03.2017, one refugee originating from Iran returned from the Serbian border on his own, i.e. arrived to Gevgelija by train from Tabanovce. After he was given water and food, he was transported to Greece at his own request. On the same day, during a routine control of a cargo train operating from Greece to Macedonia, six refugees originating from Algeria and one refugee originating from Palestine, were caught hiding in the vagons by the police. After they were all registered in the camp, they were transported to Greek territory.

On the next day, two refugees originating from Syria were brought to the camp, after they were caught in the vicinity of the railway station in Gevgelija. According to them, they were coming back from Serbia. Only one of them had documents, and consequently he was the only one who was registered, and they were immediately transported to Greece.

Kumanovo

Available facilities and conditions

The number of refugees in the camp in the course of these two weeks fluctuates around 30 and it constantly varies, due to the daily arrival and deperature of certain groups or individuals. It has been noticed that there are around ten refugees staying in the vicinity of the camp, who are mainly of Algerian origin and are not allowed to enter or get accommodation in the camp.

In the course of this period, high delegations of UNHCR and FRONTEX paid visits to the camp.

Institutional treatment

On 16.03.2017, a 8-member family originating from Syria was admitted to the camp, including 4 minor childred. The family had returned from Serbia. At their request to be transported to Greece, they were told to wait until a bigger group was formed, in order to get organized transport. Two days later, together with two refugees from Syria who were sent back from Bujanovac, Serbia, they set off from Tabanovce to Skopje in a van, wherefrom they should proceed to Gevgelija. They started their trip at their own initiative, after the institutions failed to provide them with transport.

The situation at the Shelter Centers in the Republic of Macedonia

The number of refugees accommodated in the Refugee Centers is not available.

Irregular migration

In the course of these two weeks, the Ministry of Interior did register any criminal or legal events related to migrant or refugee smuggling in their bulletins.