On January 31st 2017, MARRI Regional Center team visited the border crossing point “Bogorodica” on Macedonian-Greek border and the Temporary Transit Center “Vinojug” in Gevgelija in order to gain closer perspective on the situation in situ.
The Commander Mitko Iliev at the Border Police Station welcomed the visitors and recapitulated the events on the border since the beginning of the migrant crisis. During the meeting, he presented the challenges of the police officers especially during the main wave of incoming migrants; gave an overview of the technical capacities at use and statistical data on migrants that crossed this point. According to the Commander Iliev, priorities are now focused on prevention of the illegal crossings of the border, detaining of the smugglers of migrants and training the police officers. At present, seven contingents of foreign police officers from Austria, Czechoslovakia, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia are deployed at the border to assist Macedonian border police.
Temporary Transit Center “Vinojug” presently hosts 69 migrants with all necessary documents. Half of them are children. Boban Antonovski from Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia presented capacities and structure of the Center; illustrated the situation in the first days of the crisis and explained the procedures for admission after it was organized in more orderly manner. It was pointed out that excellent coordination has been established with diverse agencies an partners, like UNCHR, IOM, DRC, Red Cross, MYLA and La Strada in order to manage all needs and challenges on daily basis. Representatives from UNCHR met with MARRI RC team and shared their experiences stressing that all agencies work closely together coordinating their activities in a way that ensures 24/7 support.
On February 2nd 2017, MARRI RC team visited Temporary Transit Center in Tabanovce where they met with representatives from Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of the Republic of Macedonia, UNCHR and Crisis Management Center