The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo for the period: 05.09.2016 – 11.09.2016

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

The number of refugees in the camp amounted to 127 and remained unchanged in the course of the entire week.

A layer of concrete is being set-up in the area in front of the gate, where an identification scanner and a metal detector are planned to be placed.

Four new containers have been set up in the camp, and the refugees are already accommodated in them.

A team of UNCHR paid a visit to the camp, accompanied by a famous Norwegian actor who had a meeting with the children.

In anticipation of the Muslim holiday Kurban Bayram, the refugees are getting ready to celebrate it according to their customs.

Institutional treatment

Two children from the camp were taken to get their vaccination in Gevgelija. Their transportation was provided by the Red Cross.

In the course of the week, one family originating from Syria, a man, woman and three children were discovered in the vicinity of the border fence. After they were given food and water by the Red Cross, they were deported back to Greek territory. This makes them the only refugees who were transported to Greek territory over the entire week.

Zumba classes were organized for the girls in the camp by the NGOs. While some of the refugees attend the language lessons they have in the camp, the rest of them are depressed and have no will to get involved in any activity whatsoever.

Kumanovo

Available facilities and conditions

The official number of refugees in the camp amounts to about 60.

In anticipation of the Kurban Bayram holiday, an adequate celebration is being prepared.

Some of the containers in the camp are being disassembled, in order to make space for the new ones.

The hygiene in the camp is at a terrible level because the janitors have stopped doing their job for the second week in line as a sign of protest against the delays in payment.

One of the refugees was given a musical instrument.

Institutional treatment

0n 09.09.2016, a family from Afghanistan arrived in the camp, consisting of four children with a pregnant mother, who were initially banned from entering the camp by the official persons. Later on, they were allowed to briefly enter the camp, which they took advantage of to take care of their personal hygiene.

It can be observed that a large number of refugees are staying the fields in the vicinity of the camp. They come to the camp from time to time, asking for food.

The refugee originating from Algeria who suffered an electric shock a few weeks ago in an attempt to escape with the train, has been brought back to the camp.

The situation at the shelter centers in the Republic of Macedonia

The number of refugees in the shelter centers in the Republic of Macedonia is not available.

Irregular migration

In the course of this week, the Ministry of Interior registered a single criminal-legal event related to migrant smuggling, which took place on 11.09.2016. At the pay toll Otovica, on the Gevgelija-Skopje motorway, an offender was caught transporting 10 refugees.

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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.