Macedonian Gevgelija refugee transit center not to become temporary center

Macedonian southeastern Gevgelija refugee transit center on the border with Greece will not change into a temporary center due to the limited capacities of the center, the Mayor of Gevgelija, Ivan Frangov confirmed on Friday.

Frangov made this statement referring to the decision taken by the local authorities not to accept possible changes to the temporary character of the center. More than 10,000 people are waiting across the border, on the Greek side, for the possible reopening of the Balkan route.

"Gevgelija border town has handled well the brunt of the migrant crisis and that challenges remain, even after the Balkan route was closed down," stated Frangov.

Mayor Frangov made the declaration during his meeting with Martin Klaucke, head of the cooperation unit of the European Union mission in Macedonia, who visited Gevgelija.

Klaucke welcomed the role the town played during the crisis, and announced that the EU will deliver help in machines for solid waste management.

In 2015, over a million refugees and migrants passed through Gevgelija, which was one of the focal points of the crisis, as the main border crossing with Greece passes right next to Gevgelija.

The small temporary transit center was used to accommodate the migrants as they waited for transportation toward Macedonia's northern border with Greece, and it still houses several dozen people even after the Balkan route was closed. Enditem