The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo for the period: 10.10.2016 – 16.10.2016

The weekly 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.

Gevgelija

Available facilities and conditions

In the course of this week, the number of refugees in the camp oscillated from 122 to 128.

Generally, the conditions in the camp remain unchanged, with the exception of the relocation of several families in other containers (cabins).

After PE Komunalec cleaned the camp, the hygiene level has been visibly improved.

Heaters have been brought to the camp due to the drop in temperatures.

Over the week the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, Martin Stropnický paid a visit to the camp, accompanied by the Minister of Defense of RM, Zoran Jolevski.

Institutional treatment

On 14.10.2016, six refugees were brought to the camp, among whom one man originating from Iraq and five Syrians, 3 of whom are juveniles. They were caught on the passenger train Gevgelija-Skopje. All of them possessed valid travel documents, which were checked by the police officers. For the first time, the police officers took fingerprints and registered the refugees in a new database. After they were provided with humanitarian aid by the Red Cross, the refugees were transported to Greek territory. On the same day, two refugees originating from Pakistan were brought to the camp,  having arrived from Kumanovo to the police station in Gevgelija by bus. They were also registered and then transported to Greek territory.

On 15.10.2016, three refugees were brought to the camp, two of whom originated from Afghanistan and one from Pakistan. On the same day, after they were provided with humanitarian relief, they were transported back to Greek territory.

At a meeting of the competent institutions and organizations in the camp, a decision was made that the asylum-seekers residing the camp will be allowed to go out of the camp and visit Gevgelija, once every three days. The Red Cross will assist the transportation, as well as the overall accompanying of refugees from the camp who are not asylum-seekers, but need to go to the city.

The Helsinki Committee salutes this decision, which is the first attempt to date that aims to make it possible for the refugees to go out of camp.

At present, a total of 23 refugees have applied for asylum.

Kumanovo

Available facilities and conditions

Since the start of the week, when it was 61, the number of refugees in the camp went up to 114 by the end of week, as the groups of refugees with various origin who had arrived to the camp stayed there for a few days.

At UNHRC’s initiative a meeting was held between the all the organizations deployed on field, as well as the representatives of the institutions and refugees, where the problems and needs of the refugees were discussed.

The Helsinki Committee commends the holding of this meeting, which is of exceptional importance for the well-being of the refugees in the camp.

The refugees, dissatisfied with the quality of the food given to them, have expressed desire to be given fresh produce so that they can prepare their own food. In addition, they asked for washing machines.

There has been a shortage of hot water for a few days, and the heaters have not been fixed yet.

In spite of the drop of temperatures and the bad weather conditions, the refugees have still not been provided with winter/warm clothes.

Institutional treatment

On 12.10.2016, 7 refugees originating from Syria and Iraq were brought to the camp. They voluntarily returned from Serbia, with the explanation that they had not been able to withstand the bad conditions and low temperatures. The police allowed them to get humanitarian aid from the Red Cross (food and clothes), whereby they have to leave the camp.

On 13.10.2016, two groups of refugees were brought to the camp. The first group was from Iraq, and consisted of two women, one man and 6 children. They arrived to the camp from Greece. The second group arrived from Serbia after they had been transported by the Serbian police. It consisted of 7 refugees from Sudan and Pakistan.

On the next day, 13 new refugees were brought to the camp, 10 originating from Syria and three originating from Afghanistan. They arrived to the camp from the Serbian side.

All of these groups were accommodated in the camp and will be allowed to stay until a decision is made on what further action to be taken with them.

The situation in the shelter centers in the Republic of Macedonia

The number of refugees in the shelter centers is unavailable.

Irregular migration

The daily bulletins of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have registered two events related to refugees and refugee-smuggling this week. In fact, on 12.10.2016, in a coordinated action of the police services 53 refugees originating from Afghanistan and Pakistan were discovered and apprehended in the vicinity of the village of Lojane, Lipkovo Municipality. On the following day, on the road to Sveti Nikole, village of Petrshino, during a check-up of two vehicles, the police officers caught 5 refugees originating from Pakistan. The drivers of the vehicles are on the run, and the refugees have been taken to the police station in Probishtip, until further action is taken.

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This report is made possible by the generous support of the Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI) within the project „Improvement of the rights protection for migrants and asylum seekers in the Republic of Macedonia“. The contents are the responsibility of the Helsinki Committee for Human rights of the Republic of Macedonia and do not necessarily reflect the views of FOSI.