Idomeni

ita eng
4 March 2016

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)

Idomeni_1_S
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
Idomeni_2_A
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
Idomeni_3_S
The arrival in Idomeni camp
Idomeni_4_S
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
Idomeni_5_A
Inside one of the big tents that host refugees in Idomeni
Idomeni_6_S
Inside and in the surroundings of the camp, tens of small tends were pitched to grant many families some protection during the night
Idomeni_7_A
The northern end of the camp is delimited by a barrier of barbed wire. Beyond the wall there is Macedonia
9_S
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
10_S
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. 
11_S
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.
12_A
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
13_S
Following the new procedures limiting the access of refugees adopted by the governments of Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia, the situation is turning more and more chaotic every day. A group of more than 100 Syrians and Iraqis was rejected by Croatia because they were without the required documentation. They went back to Macedonia to obtain new documents, but then they were rejected by Serbia "because they had already been rejected by Croatia". The picture shows them sleeping in the open in the no man's land between Serbia and Macedonia, as they are unable to continue or to go back. Their situation was eventually resolved through the mediation of the UNHCR
14_A
A family of Yazidi refugees in the identification camp located in Preševo, Serbia
15_S
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