|
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Increasing numbers of refugees fleeing Middle-East states have flooded into Serbia during the first half of 2015. The United Nations Refugee Agency says the number has increased dramatically this year and most come from Syria.
Some of these people have been living on the streets for over a month. The refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria are now stranded in Serbian border cities and the capital-Belgrade. The United Nations Refugee Agency says Serbia is bearing the burden of an increasing number of people fleeing conflict in the middle east.
"In 2014, for the whole 12 months, there were 16,490 registered intentions to seek asylum by the refugees. This year, from the 1st of January to 31st of July, 66,476 refugees registered their intent to seek asylum in Serbia. The influx annually started in June and has been continued," said Mirjana Milenkovski, spokesman of Serbia Branch of UNHCR.
However, most of those arriving don't plan to stay in Serbia. The next stop for many is Hungary, in Europe's Schengen Area, and from there onwards to west or north European states.
For most refugees in Serbia's capital Belgrade, the public parks are temporarily the place they call home. The government provides water and temporary toilets, but living conditions remain rough, and temperatures constantly sit above 30 degrees Celsius.
Some Belgrade residents are voluntarily cleaning up rubbish in the parks, and also providing the refugees with information and money for their daily necessities.
"Because I would want someone to help me if I was in the same situation. And, you can't blame these people for running away from where bombs are falling on their heads. So, I think we all as citizens, and even after what happened in the floods last year and people helped us, we need to help them," said Nenad Popovic, volunteer of Belgrade.
Serbia's government has said it will keep the border open to refugees. And, with UNHCR assistance, it's expanding the country's refugee centres to accommodate the growing influx.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
