La strada, giorno per giorno: Civil March For Aleppo - gruppo di coordinamento italiano https://www.facebook.com/groups/1256888057706531/?fref=ts |
We are in Serbia and a small group decided to separate from the march for a couple of days and went north to witness the refugee situation. We traveled through Belgrade where over 1000 people found shelter in “barracks”. We went to Sid and Subotica, towns close to northern Serbian border with EU. This is where refugees are stranded with almost no chance to cross the border. Not only the multiple tightening of the borders stops them but as well it’s the violence from Hungarian and Croatian border police.
What problems do refugees face here? Those who didn’t get their spot in the camp, where big organizations operate, are left without safe shelter, food and access to hot water. It was painful to see. In Belgrade, Subotica and Sid, there are thousands of refugees like this, many of them are minors. We have met teenage boys, who have been two years on the road alone. They have been through a horror, and now their basic needs are not secured and their human rights are not respected. They are homeless and invisible to the government and the system. However, small NGO’s and independent volunteers are doing an incredible work providing water to drink, food fresh and cooked (so that those kids have something warm to eat!), and access to shower. It seems basic from many people’s perspective. But it is true happiness here. Group of volunteers have limited resources, but they do their best. They try and help.
The harsh winter is over, but with the warmer weather more and more people displaced by war and danger in their home country can try to reach Europe through the Balkan route. Europe is turning her head around to not see people in need on Balkan route. Local people are often passing by (though not all). On the one hand, this is a place to lose faith in humanity. On the other – this is wake up call. There are volunteers who refuse to stop working and helping.
Please, consider helping this small German organization called Rigardu. They are working in Subotica on the Serbian - Hungarian border. This is just a group of young people, providing clean drinking water, hot showers to prevent illnesses such as scabies that are easily contracted in dire hygiene conditions.
If you can help or donate go here: https://www.facebook.com/rigardu/
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
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