The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo for the period 21.11.2016 – 27.11.2016

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 remained the same during the entire week, and amounted to 98.

Due to the protest of the janitors for unpaid salaries and their refusal to do their obligations, the hygiene in the camp has significantly deteriorated.

On 22.11.2016, the Slovenian ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, Milan Jazbec paid a visit to the camp, together with the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Oliver Andonov. In the course of the week, a delegation from the French Embassy also paid a visit to the camp.

The children who are accommodated in the camp go on regular outings accompanied by adults. The adults are allowed to take a walk out at their request and when necessary, accompanied by the representatives of the Red Cross.

Institutional treatment

On 21.11.2016, three refugees originating from Iraq, who had been caught up in the vicinity of the railway station, were brought to the camp. After they were provided with medical and humanitarian aid by the Red Cross, they were transported to Greek territory, without any particular delay by the police.

Two groups of refugees were brought to the camp on the night between 22 and 23.11.2016. One group consisted of 12, and the other one of 14 refugees originating from Syria, Iraq, Algeria and Morocco. They were caught in the vicinity of the railway station, and after they were provided with medical and humanitarian aid they were immediately transported to Greek territory, in the course of the night. On 23.11.2016 another refugee originating from Tunisia arrived in the camp, who headed to Skopje on his own will, with the intention to go back to Greece.

On 24. 11.2016, a refugee originating from Pakistan was brought to the camp, who was caught by the police at the railway station in Gevgelija, after having arrived to Tabanovce by train. According to him, he was caught with a group of 14 other refugees in Serbia, and sent back to Macedonian territory. Later that day, two more refugees originating from Tunisia and Algeria were brought, who managed to arrive from Greece to Skopje on foot, and then handed themselves deliberately to the police, in order to be taken back to Greece. After the security services interviewed them, all three of them were taken back to Greece.

On 26.11.2016, a group of 8 refugees originating from Algeria , who had allegedly been caught in the vicinity of Kumanovo, after they had slept on a train for 5 days without food, were brought to the camp. After they were taken for an interview with the security staff, they were transported to Greek territory.

Kumanovo

Available facilities and conditions

The unofficial number of refugees in the camp amounts to about 100-11- refugees, most of whom are unregistered. There is large number of refugees who reside in the places in the vicinity, sleep in mosques or abandoned houses, and are in a bad state, i.e. their personal hygiene and health are deteriorating, and they come to the camp only to get warm and get some food. They are not even always allowed to access the camp.

On 23.11.2016, a delegation from Brussels paid a visit to the camp. The delegation visited the refugees residing in the vicinity of the camp, as well as the villages in the vicinity.

The camp infrastructure has been upgraded. The part of the kitchen which was in the open air is now closed and warm, and the refugees are allowed to use it.

Institutional treatment

On 23.11.2016, a large group of refugees with deteriorating health, with wounds on their legs and bodies, arrived to the camp. As soon as they headed to the kitchen to ask for food, the police chased them all out of the camp.

Situation at the shelter centers in the Republic of Macedonia

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

Irregular migration

In the course of this week, the Ministry of Interior did not register a single criminal-legal event related to refugees or migrant-smuggling in its bulletins.