The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo for the period: 24.10.2016 – 30.10.2016

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

The number of refugees in the camp during the entire week amounted to 129. Increased stirring of the refugees has been observed in the surrounding (illegal) roads and subsequent “deportation” to Greece.

There have not been significant changes in the facilities in the camp.

Institutional treatment

In the course of the week two smaller groups were brought to the camp, and then transported to Greek territory. On 24.10.2016, a group of 8 refugees was brought to the camp, 4 of whom were men originating from Algeria together with a four member family from Afghanistan with two juvenile children. They were caught in the vicinity of the railway station in Gevgelija. After they were provided with humanitarian aid in the camp by the Red Cross, they were transported to the Republic of Greece. On the next day, 4 more refugees originating from Afghanistan were brought to the camp, one of whom had an injured arm. After they were provided with humanitarian and medical aid, they were transported to Greek territory.

On 29.10.2016, a refugee originating from Syria who was accommodated in the camp, was transported back to Greek territory at his own request. Thus the number of refugees dropped to 128.

The refugees who are asylum seekers are able to leave the camp once in three days, accompanied by representatives of the Red Cross.

Kumanovo

Available facilities and conditions

At the start of the week, the number of refugees in the camp amounted to 104, taking into account the arrival of several groups from the previous week.

Changes in the facilities in the camp have been announced, i.e. setting up of additional containers for sheltering/accommodation of the unregistered refugees (who stay in the camp only temporarily), as well as setting up of washing machines and clothes dryers.

Institutional treatment

In the villages in the vicinity of the camp, and in Kumanovo, increased movement of bigger groups of refugees has been observed. In rare cases, groups or families were allowed to enter and be sheltered in the camp, but most often they are denied access.

On 25.10.2016, an eight member family which was caught in the surrounding villages, was brought and sheltered in the camp. On 29.10.2016, two families originating from Iran, who were reported by the local people, were sheltered in the camp. Cheated on by smuggling groups to whom they each paid 1200 to be taken to Belgrade, they ended up being left in the vicinity of the Macedonian-Serbian border, until the local residents gave them directions for the refugee camp.

In the course of the week, with IOM’s mediation, a nine member family from the camp, consisting of 6 children and three adults originating from Iraq, are going back to their native country.

The situation in the shelter centres in the Republic of Macedonia

The number of refugees in the Shelter Centres in the Republic of Macedonia is not available.

Irregular migration.

In the course of this period, the Ministry of Interior did not register a single incident related to refugees, or refugee-smuggling.

---

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.