The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo for the period 14.11.2016 – 20.11.2016

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 oscillates between 90 and 100, depending on the number of refugees arriving or departing from the camp.

The children who are accommodated in the camp, are taken out on regular walks to Gevgelija accompanied by social workers from the non-governmental organizations.

Институционално постапување Institutional treatment

At the beginning of the week, two refugees originating from Syria, aged 21 and 23, who had been residing in the camp for about 8 months, were transported to Greek territory by the Macedonian police, at their own request.

On 15.11.2016, a six-member family originating from Iraq was brought to the camp, consisting of a husband and his pregnant wife, together with their four children. One of the children had a disability, and could therefore not move on his own. Allegedly the family was caught as a part of a group with 24 refugees, the rest of whom were immediately transported back to Greek territory, while this family was taken to the camp due to the vulnerability of the pregnant woman and the disabled child. The pregnant woman was accompanied for a check-up in the Gevgelija hospital, where it was found her health was good. On the same day, two refugees originating from Afghanistan and four refugees originating from Pakistan were brought to the camp accompanied by the police, after they had been caught in the vicinity of the village of Smokvica, Gevgelija. On the same day, two more refugees from Afghanistan and four more from Pakistan were brought to the camp accompanied by the police, caught in the vicinity of the village of Smokvica, Gevgelija. The four Pakistanis had crossed the Macedonian-Serbian border a few days ago, and only made it to Preshevo, where they were intercepted by the Serbian police and taken back to Macedonia. The two Afghans set off from Athens and paid 1500 EUR each to smugglers, to take them to Belgrade. After they were cheated on by the smugglers, they were left in the village of Lojane, Kumanovo, where they were robbed. They went to Shid, Serbia from here. After they were registered by the Serbian police, they were first sent to Preshevo, and to Macedonia as well. One man from Syria was also brought to the camp, who, upon arriving to Belgrade, decided to head back to Greece, in order to be united with his family. All of these refugees were sent back to Greek territory.

On 16.11.2016, 3 refugees originating from Pakistan were caught down the roads in the vicinity. After security check-ups were performed, they were transported to Greek territory. Two days later, in the vicinity of the village of Prdejci, Gevgelija, 12 refugees originating from Afghanistan and Pakistan were caught. After they were provided with humanitarian aid by the Red Cross, and the security services had an informative talk with them, the refugees were transported to Greece.

Kumanovo

Available facilities and conditions

The official number of registered refugees in the camp amounts to 58, 10 of whom are women, 12 men and 6 children. However, the unofficial number of refugees present in the camp moves between 100 and 110 and varies on a daily basis.

On 18.11.2016, the newly-appointed Head of the Crisis Management Center, Mr. Agron Buxhaku, paid a visit to the camp.

Institutional treatment

A large number of refugees are scattered in the fields around the camp, and occasionally come to the camp to get food. After they take food, they are given instructions that they have to leave the camp.

On 17.11.2016, a police officer used force against a refugee who was staying in the camp. The reasons for this are unknown and the police officer inflicted serious injuries which caused dizziness in the refugee, whereby the team of the Red Cross had to intervene.

The Helsinki Committee will take prompt action and report the incident to the Sector for Internal Control and Professional Standards. The use of unjustified force by police officers while doing their duty is impermissible and must be adequately sanctioned.

There are two new sheltered families in the camp, who have come from Greece.

The situation in 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 only one criminal and legal event related to the migrants in its bulletins. In fact, in the vicinity of the village of Borievo, Municipality of Bosilovo, Strumica, a vehicle was found with Skopje registration plates with two Macedonian residents in it. 7 refugees originating from Syria were found in the vehicle. The driver and co-driver were detained and criminal charges have been pressed against them.