The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo for the period 26.12.2016 – 08.01.2017

The two weeks 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

In the course of these two weeks, the number of refugees in the camp amounted to 92.

On 29.12.2016, a refugee in the Vinojug camp gave birth in Skopje. After a few days spent in a hospital, she was taken back to the camp together with her baby. The mother was given baby clothes and cosmetics.

Due to the poor weather conditions, the movement of the refugees around the camp is limited.

In the course of the first week, the camp hygiene was at a deplorable level, with recycling bins crammed with litter and this lasted until the end of the second week when PE Komunalec finally cleaned the camp.

On 27.12.2016, the children from the camp were taken to visit the Primary School Vlado Kantardziev in Gevgelija, where together with the children from the school they attended a new-year themed workshop. When they came back from the camp, the children were given new-years candy bags from Santa Clause, organized by the Red Cross.

On 04.01.2017, a new unit with 41 police officers from the Czech Republic arrived to the camp and will patrol in the vicinity.

Institutional treatment

At the very start of the week, on 26.12.2016 two Albanian citizens who had illegally crossed the Greek-Macedonian border were brought to the camp. They were registered by the police whereby they were taken to the police station in Gevgelija for further action. This is not the first case of catching Albanian citizens illegally entering the Republic of Macedonia from the Greek border. On the same day, a refugees originating from Afghanistan was also brought, who had arrived to Gevgelija from Tabanovce. After he was registered by the police, he was taken back to Greek territory.

On 27.12.2016, one refugee originating from Bangladesh arrived alone in the camp on his way from Serbia. He was provided with medical aid by the Red Cross for the wounds on his legs that were inflicted during the long walk. He was immediately deported to Greek territory.

On 30.12.2016, 11 refugees with various origin were brought to the camp, among whom one Albanian citizen, five members from Algeria, three from Morocco and one from Libya and Syria each. They were caught by the police during a routine control of the railway station while they were attempting to cross the Greek-Macedonian border. The refugees were registered by the police and immediately transported to Greek territory, while the Albanian citizen was taken to the police station. The Red Cross team provided them with food and water.

On the next morning three more men originating from Pakistan were brought to the camp, after being caught at the railway station when they were going back to Tabanovce from Gevgelija. The Red Cross provided them with humanitarian aid. Shortly after they were registered they were transported to Greek territory.

In the course of 03.01.2017, one refugee originating from Afghanistan arrived to the camp while voluntarily going back from Serbia to Greece. According to his testimony, he travelled alone, and was physically attacked by unknown people during the trip. After he was provided with humanitarian and medical aid, he was transported to Greek territory. On the following 7 refugees were brought to the camp, 5 of whom originating from Iraq (Mosul), while one from Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the group there is one juvenile boy aged 16, who is travelling with his adult brother. The group travelled on foot from Thessalonica to the Macedonian border, where the smugglers left them to cross the border on their own, whereby they were caught by the police. They were given medical aid after one of them complained of a leg injury. They were also given humanitarian aid by the Red Cross. After they were registered by the police, they were immediately transported to Greek territory.

3 juvenile men originating from Pakistan were brought to the camp on 05.01.2017. These people were part of a larger group of 20 refugees, who had illegally crossed the border in the vicinity of the village of Bogorodica. There, they were caught by the police, while the rest of the group escaped. The police officers registered them, they were explained the asylum-request submission procedure, but none of them wanted to use this right. In the course of the same day, a young man originating from Pakistan arrived to the camp, travelling alone, without the help of smugglers. All four of them were transported to Greek territory.

Towards the end of the week,  9 refugees who had been staying in the camp, announced their voluntary departure to Greece. They gave the hopeless situation they were in as a reason for their trip. Despite being advised not to travel during the poor weather, they were determined to go ahead with their departure.

Kumanovo

Available facilities and conditions

The official number of refugees in the camp amounts to 48, but off the record, this number is much higher.

In anticipation of the New Year holidays, the camp was decorated, while the children were taken to a one-day excursion where they were given new-year bags of candy.

Due to the low temperatures, the refugees did not leave their cabins often.

The low temperatures caused the water in the toilets to freeze, and led to several blackouts in the electricity supply. Due to this several refugee cabins are out of electricity, and consequently out of heating. They are expected to be repaired soon.

Institutional treatment

In the course of these two week, individuals often came to the camp. On 29.12.2016, a person who had allegedly been bitten by a dog in the vicinity of the camp, arrived in the camp. He was not admitted to the camp to get medical or humanitarian aid.

The number of police officers in the camp has increased.

On 08.01.2017, three refugees arrived to the camp, two men and one women, who were admitted and accommodated in the camp.

The refugees complain of not having enough winter-appropriate, warm clothes.

Moreover, there are also refugee complaints that there are no available medicines in the camp health dispensary for the children who have high temperature and the flu, for more than a week.

The situation in 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 these two weeks, the Ministry of Interior did not register any incidents related to refugees or illegal migration in their daily bulletins.