Refugees face high temperatures, aid workers under pressure
High temperatures and record activity in the parks around Belgrade's main bus station were reported on Wednesday, Info Park has announced.
Thursday, 14.07.2016.
12:22
Refugees face high temperatures, aid workers under pressure
Compared with the situation a year ago, from the beginning of July 2015, this amounts to a significant increase in Belgrade.The Asylum Center in Krnjaca is full and often turns back newcomers. Due to insufficient capacity, refugees are sent to other centers, including Sid, Tutin, Banja Koviljaca. Now between 150 and 200 refugees sleep in the parks and that number is growing every night.
Every day, new and growing groups of returnees are arriving from Hungary, whose authorities are sending them back to Serbia outside international procedures and protocols, using radical repressive measures. There is a large number of new arrivals from Bulgaria and Macedonia while a significant number is made up of refugees who have been stuck for a long time in Belgrade, without funds to continue their journey.
Belgrade is almost certainly moving toward the situation similar to August 2015 when the parks were full of refugees.
The risks for humanitarian workers in the park have also greatly increased. So far there have been several attacks that have thankfully passed without serious consequences. Although under stress due to the reduced level of protection, refugees are now showing a very high level of responsibility for peace and security in the park and usually regulate the distribution of food, clothing and hygiene items themselves, and isolate potential troublemakers.
Info Park, among other things, is now making great efforts to improve the hygienic situation in the park and raise awareness among the beneficiaries of humanitarian aid about the necessity to dispose of the garbage themselves after having their meals. Unfortunately, the main problem remains the lack of sanitation facilities. There are still no toilets in the park at the refugees' disposal, while last year there were more than 20. The level of health care is also unsatisfactory. In high temperatures, refugees frequently faint due to dehydration and sunstroke. Most medical teams are now close to the Hungarian border although the situation in Belgrade also requires their engagement.
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