Idomeni
04/03/2016, Redazione
The journey of refugees towards Idomeni, where in recent days the doors of the Balkan route has been closed (Photos and text by Andrea Rossini and Simone Ginzburg)

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The Greek authorities are trying to slow the arrivals in Idomeni setting up new camps to address the emergency, but in many cases refugees decide to continue their journey walking along the country's highways to reach the border with Macedonia

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Some refugees try to agree with taxi drivers to continue towards the border. From the suburbs of Thessaloniki to the border it can cost around 100 euro. The police will then stop the taxi before Idomeni, in Policastro

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The arrival in Idomeni camp

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It's more than one week that the camp exceeded all accommodation capacity. It was planned as a transit camp, but since Macedonia has restricted access in the country, the refugees remain stranded for days in Idomeni

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Inside one of the big tents that host refugees in Idomeni

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Inside and in the surroundings of the camp, tens of small tends were pitched to grant many families some protection during the night

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The northern end of the camp is delimited by a barrier of barbed wire. Beyond the wall there is Macedonia

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Until last week, Syrians and Iraqis were allowed to continue their journey towards the North. In the picture, the arrival of some families to the Macedonian camp in Gevgelija

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Police forces of different countries work together with the Macedonian authorities in the camp of Vinojug/Gevgelija and at the border of Idomeni. Among the others, on the ground there are Austrian policemen, Serbs, Croats, Czechs and Slovaks that help Skopje in the defence of the borders.

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Refugees celebrate the moment in which they leave the camp in Vinojug, heading towards the border with Serbia. Their train will remain blocked for hours at the station Gevgelija, without anyone being allowed to leave the coaches. Eventually the train will return to Vinojug.

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The entrance of the Tabanovce camp, in Macedonia, on the border with Serbia. Located next to the railway, it is the crossroad for all those who took the train in Vinojug / Gevgelija. At the other side of the camp, a small road leads to Serbia

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A group of over 100 Syrian and Iraqi refugees were repeatedly rejected by Croatia, Serbia, and Macedonia due to lack of documentation, leaving them stranded between Serbia and Macedonia until the UNHCR intervened.

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A family of Yazidi refugees in the identification camp located in Preševo, Serbia

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All along the Balkan route, hundreds of European volunteers lend their help in solidarity with the refugees on their journey to Germany. In the picture, the Borderfree tent outside the Preševo camp


