27 days and counting. The journey for refugees continues
In his halting English, a young Afghan man, named Iqrar, tells us his story. Like many of the refugees in the park, he’s hesitant to have his picture taken, but he smiles as he tells us that he has walked for the past 27 days to reach the Serbian capital, and will likely be walking a lot further to reach his destination.
“Afghanistan to Iraq; Iraq to Turkey; Turkey to Bulgaria and Bulgaria to Serbia,” Iqrar says, noting with a grin that he was given only one ride for about an hour in a small car during his long journey.
Iqrar says he wants to get to Belgium, a distance of more than 1,300 kilometers from his current location in Belgrade. He’s not sure where he’ll go next, possibly Croatia or Slovakia. Nor does he know what he’ll do when he gets there, shrugging his shoulders uncertainly when asked about his future plans.
Across the street, in a small trailer, Irena Petkovic tells us she’s seen a lot of men and women like Iqrar over the past few days. Irena is a nurse working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She tells us that doctors at the trailer treat an average of 50 patients per day among the refugee population that reaches Belgrade. It’s a far cry from the summer months, when tents containing refugee families dotted parks and public spaces in and around Belgrade as the first wave arrived. Still, the patient’s needs are much the same as they’ve always been: foot and leg ailments from so much walking, as well as children with colds and flu caused by shifting temperatures and too much time spent outdoors.
UNHCR Nurse Irene Petkovic is part of the team of medical personnel that work in a trailer in a park in Belgrade, Serbia. On average, they see about 50 refugee patients a day, suffering from a variety of ailments relating to travelling great distances.
Whatever their problems, Irena says the refugees are united in their desire to keep moving. She tells of an older woman with diabetes who came to the clinic after her blood sugar levels had undergone a severe spike. Despite her obvious illness, the woman refused to go to hospital, and insisted on rejoining her husband to continue their trek.
My World Vision colleague, Goran Stupar, and I left the park as afternoon light was fading, both of us wondering if we would see Iqrar and the other refugees from the park in the days ahead. World Vision teams are at the Serbian/Croatian border, helping to support refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria as they reach the next stage in their journeys. More than 70,000 refugees have been provided with food, water and hygiene supplies, while children have had the opportunity to take part in activities at a World Vision Child-friendly Space.
A lot has been done to help these refugees. But with winter fast approaching, it is clear that much more will need to be done to see them safely on their way.
World Vision is responding to the refugee crisis in the Western Balkans by providing basic hygiene and food packages as well as child protection services.