Although MUP yesterday released the information that „refugees were not returned from Slovenia“ (http://www.mup.hr/229575.aspx), the media indicate the opposite – that since the beginning of current year 70 people have been returned from Slovenia to Croatia (http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/u-sloveniji-privedeno-9-izbjeglica-zbog-sumnji-da-su-ilegalno-usli-u-zemlju/872893.aspx). Recently, Slovenian police have released the information about sending back 15 people who passed through Croatia, just in one day (http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/u-sloveniji-privedeno-9-izbjeglica-zbog-sumnji-da-su-ilegalno-usli-u-zemlju/872893.aspx).
Our field activists in Zagreb have been informed (by the refugees themselves) about the returned refugees. In the same report MUP released the information that “refugees have the right to stay at the Reception center until they get the possibility to move on to a country of their choice or return to their homeland”. So, we are sending the inquiry about the capacities of accommodation for the returned people in Zagreb, since we got the information by the policeman in Porin that, in this former Acceptance center for asylum seekers, only vulnerable groups (women and children) are allowed to stay . In Zagreb are currently staying, besides people returned from Slovenia, the ones who were prevented from entering Serbia at Šid border crossing.
Since the refugees in Zagreb need help, the inner circle of volunteers is already in the field, and the Initiative volunteers from Zagreb have been summoned.
If you are able and willing to volunteer in Zagreb and you have not received the call, please do fill in our registration and mark that you are interested in doing voluntary work in Zagreb. You will be contacted and further informed.
Meanwile, we are still present at the the Camp and we participate in everyday activities.
Yesterday was a quiet day at the Camp, although much more active than two previous days. Two trains arrived at the Camp: the first at 8 a.m. with 880 people, and the second at 3 p.m. with 918 persons. Everything went in order.
The next train is expected at 3 a.m. and a larger number of people during this weekend.
We are pleading with you to donate only warm winter clothes and footwear.
News from the world:
On Wednesday the Macedonian government announced the deal about the Balkan route, making clear that drastic measures for increasing safety at Greek border will be undertaken. Since yesterday, refugees that have been entering Macedonia have to go through a 30 minute inquiry at the border, which is to identify their nationality. Besides, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria have concluded the agreement about the accelerated exchange of information and new procedures of identifying refugees. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has announced on Thursday that 40 000 people are fleeing Aleppo, which is under threat of falling under siege. Red Cross has announced that food has been distributed to more than 12 000 people in the beseiged city of Muadhamiya, near Damascus, enough for them to hold on for three weeks. 10 000 people (of 50 000 inhabitants) have also received urgent medical help.
