The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo for the period 20.06 – 26.06.2016

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. The report can be downloaded at the following link .

Gevgelija

Available facilities and conditions

In the course of the week, the number of refugees who stayed in the camp was 133 with sporadic arrivals and departures of a small number of refugees who were caught down illegal roads.

The World Refugee Day, 20 June, was marked in the camp with an entertainment program for the children including clowns, and a children’s’ choir from Gevgelija, who recited and sang various songs.

The construction of the laundry room to be used by the refugees in the camp is nearly done.

Institutional treatment

Two pregnant women were taken to hospital on 25.06.016 (in Skopje and Strumica respectively) due to complications with their pregnancies.

In the course of the week, a total of 19 refugees (including women and children) were transported to Greek territory after they were caught down illegal roads and were provided with humanitarian and medical aid in the camp.

Kumanovo

Available facilities and conditions

The World Refugee Day was also marked in the Tabanovce camp, with a daytime program for the children and an evening program for all of the refugees.

The number of refugees in the camp dropped to 90 at the end of the week from 100 accommodated at the start of the week.

Institutional treatment

Separate families or refugees are leaving the camp of their own will, in order to leave the country. Some of them come back to the camp after a failed attempt to leave and in bad health due to the high temperatures, while some of them do not come back, which leaves us with the conclusion that they must have crossed the border.

A smaller group of refugees from the camp tried to leave it with a train, but was prevented in doing so by the police. Two families originating from Afghanistan left the camp and did not come back.

The situation in the Shelter Centers in the Republic of Macedonia

13 refugees are accommodated in the Shelter Center for Asylum Seekers – Vizbegovo at present, while 35 people are staying in the Shelter Center for Foreighners – Gazi Baba. 11 refugees are sheltered in the Safe House.

Irregular migration

In the course of the week, the Ministry of Interior  registered a single criminal-legal event related to the smuggling of migrants which took place in the vicinity of the village of Medzitlija. 3 suspects were apprehended at the crime scene and criminal charges were pressed against them, while 9 refugees originating from Afghanistan were caught as victims.

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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.