About the project:
Monitoring access to human rights for refugees and migrants in Republic North Macedonia, supported by the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association includes monitoring of irregular migration and smuggling of people across the territory of North Macedonia. The project consists of:
1. Monitoring access to refugees and migrants in irregular migration and organized crime groups
2. Public awareness on irregular migration and organized crime
3. Legal counsel and cooperation with Institutions for improvement of the access to HR and protection for refugees and migrants in irregular migration
In accordance activities, Legis publishes monthly reports on irregular migration and access to HR and protection with focus on women and children and, overall population in irregular migration.
Northern border:
Irregular migration on the Northern border is concentrated in the so called Lipkovo region and villages: Vaksince, Lojane and Sopot. For the month of December, 311 migrants out of which 139 from India, 64-Syria, 38 – Pakistan, 20-Cuba, 16-Avghanistan, 13-Palestine, 10-Morocco, 5- Bangladesh, 2- Tunis, 1- Senegal, 1- Sri Lanka, 1-Turkey and 1-Portugal. Most of the people registered were Adults: 293 (270 Males, 23 Females) Children: 18 (1 being unaccompanied).
On 16.12.2021 a person (unregistered foreigner) died in the Kumanovo hospital. According to public information, a week prior to being hospitalized, he was found unconscious on the street “Nikola Tesla” in the city of Kumanovo on the 09th of December when he was admitted in the General Hospital. As this person was not registered in the camp Tabanovce and didn’t have personal documents, a burial was organized in the city cemetery in Kumanovo without identification.
Southern border:
Irregular migration on the Southern border is concentrated in the so called Demir Kapija region, cities: Gevgelija, Dojran, Bogdanci and Valandovo, and focal villages: Udovo, Mrzenci, Miravci and other small villages as it is heavy populated border. For the month of December, our team has reported 33 people, out of which: 16-India, 12- Cuba, 4-Syria and 1-Pakistan and came from groups and/or individuals in irregular migration and/or transit organized by criminal groups brought within the Southern camp Gevgelija. Groups or individuals caught in irregular migration in this region are processed within the border camp Vinojug-Gevgelija and pushed back to Greece or detained for further criminal proceedings.
On 05.12.2021, 9 people are accommodated as part of investigation on organized crime; they are detained in the camp Vinojug- Gevgelija until they are heard in the Public Prosecutor's Office.
On 18.12.2021, 6 people from India, (1 female; 4 male and 1 child) as part of investigation on organized crime; they are detained in the camp Vinojug- Gevgelija until they are heard in the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Organized crime/smuggling of migrants:
For the reporting period of December, 6 criminal investigations on organized crime are opened regarding transportation of people/migrants without proper or no documentation, who pay for services to foreign and local criminal groups. Total of 136 people were placed in transit-border camps for further processing as part of ongoing criminal investigation against individuals and groups transporting the people from the Southern to the Northern border of the country. According to the Ministry of Internal affairs public reports, the alleged perpetrators are local from Tetovo, Shtip and Gevgelija, while in 2 of the cases reports indicate 2 people from Pakistan and 1 from Serbia as foreign transporters. All migrants caught in irregular migration are questioned and further given short notice to leave the country receiving at least 5 years ban to re-enter.
