UN refugee agency concerned by violence at border of Macedonia and Greece

“The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is particularly worried about the thousands of vulnerable refugees and migrants, especially women and children, now massed on the Greek side of the border amid deteriorating conditions,” says a press release.

Speaking today with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Foreign Minister, Nikola Poposki, High Commissioner António Guterres received assurances that the border will not be closed in the future.

“While understanding the pressures [his country] is facing, as well as legitimate security concerns, UNHCR appeals to the Government to put in place mechanisms necessary to establish an orderly and protection-sensitive management of its borders.

In particular, we encourage the Government to work with [us] to establish sufficient reception capacity in the country as well as organized registration and identification,” adds the statement.

The Greek authorities were urged to enhance registration and reception arrangements for people in need of international protection and to provide urgent assistance to people stranded on their side of the border and help them move towards reception facilities away from it.

Standing ready to provide assistance to both governments with these “challenging tasks,” the agency also reiterated earlier calls on the European Union (EU) to step up support for countries affected and impacted by the movement of refugees in south-east Europe, including through the robust implementation of the EU Agenda on Migration and increased legal pathways of admission to Europe.

“Europe must act together in response to this growing crisis and help overstretched countries like Greece, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia,” UNHCR concluded.

Photo: UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré