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Number of women, children passing through Balkan to seek refuge in Europe triples: UNICEF

Xinhua, September 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

An estimated 3,000 people are transiting through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia daily, a third of them are women and children, the UN child rights agency UNICEF said here Tuesday.

According to UNICEF, the number of women and children fleeing violence in countries of origin and passing through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia seeking refuge in Europe has tripled in the past three months.

Figures from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Ministry of Interior and cited by UNICEF showed that among the new migrants, 80 percent originate from Syria, while 5 percent are from Afghanistan and another 5 percent are from Iraq.

UNICEF noted that since June 2015, more than 52,000 people have been registered at the border's Reception Centre in Gevgelija after entering from Greece.

It is estimated that just as many transit through the country without being registered.

"Many families have been on the move with their children for months, enduring searing hot days, arriving with only the clothes and shoes they are wearing. They are physically exhausted and in desperate need of a place to rest," a statement from UNICEF noted.

UNICEF said it is closely monitoring the situation on the ground and is working with local authorities to ensure children are protected. It also advocate that "all actions for children on the move must be guided by the best interests of every child". Endit