The situation at the border crossings Gevgelija and Kumanovo for the period: 30.01.2017 – 05.02.2017
February 7, 2017
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 remained unchanged over the week and amounted to 69 refugees.
There are no major changes to the camp infrastructure.
The refugees complain of the food in the camp on daily basis, which mainly consists of canned meals. The humanitarian organization Legis made sure the refugees got hot meals twice a week.
Institutional treatment
Over the week, the Asylum Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs paid a visit to the camp and interviewed the families and individuals who expressed intent to seek asylum to the Republic of Macedonia.
On 04.02.2017, one person originating from Iran was brought to the camp after being caught crossing the border in the vicinity of the border crossing near Dojran. The police interviewed and registered him, while the Red Cross provided him with humanitarian and medical aid. According to him, he had been staying and working in Greece for a longer period of time. Afterwards, he was transported back to Greek territory.
On 05.02.2017, a group of 5 people originating from Afghanistan was brought to the camp. According to their statements, they were deported to Macedonia from the camp in Preshevo, Serbia, wherefrom they headed to Skopje on their own, on a train, and then to Gevgelija. After they were registered and profiled by the police, they were sent back to Greek territory.
The children and parents from the camp, accompanied by representatives of MLSP or other organizations working in camp, were taken on walks outside the camp on two occasions.
Kumanovo
Available facilities and conditions
The number of refugees in the camp constantly varies between 95 and 105. Among them there are also refugees who have arrived in the camp recently, stay in the camp for a short while and then leave it.
Due to the low temperatures, the work of the washing machines has been disabled. Therefore, the refugees are handed out new blankets once a week.
Institutional treatment
The number of refugees who get serious injuries due to frostbite in the nearby villages of Lojane and Vaksince increases. The critical cases are immediately transported to the hospital in Kumanovo and are given the necessary treatment.
Some of the refugees state that they want to be taken back to Greece.
During a police raid to the village of Tabanovce, one person was caught in possession of greater quantities of various goods that had belonged to the Red Cross, and had been lifted from the Shelter-Transit Center Tabanovce. Legal action has been taken against the said person, while the goods have been seized and transported back to the camp.
The situation in the shelter centers in the Republic of Macedonia
The number of refugees accommodated in the Shelter Centers is not available.
Irregular migration
In the course of this week, the Ministry of Interior did not register any criminal or legal events related to refugees or migrant smuggling.
