Presevo, Bujanovac – The International Day of Migrants was welcomed by the world with 258 million people on the move. Of these, 40 million people were displaced because of conflicts, while millions leave their homes every year due to climate change and natural disasters.

Currently in Serbia, there are 4.056 migrants accommodated in eleven reception and five asylum centers, while 25% of them are children. There are around five hundred migrants in 3 centers in the Pcinj district.

Fadal Muhamed has been in Serbia for two years. He was firstly in a camp in Presevo, and now he is with his family in Vranje. His eight-month-old girl, who received the Serbian name Dunja, was born in Serbia.

“We have everything, but the situation is changing, foreign organizations used to give more, now there are not so many of them, but all the families have what is necessary for them. The best family accommodation is in Serbia, "says Fadal Muhamad, from Afghanistan."

Fadal is on the waiting list for going to Hungary, while Sonja wants to join her brother in Germany.

“People are good here, we have medical assistance, food, everything that we need, it's warm inside, people want to help us and they treat us with respect, "says Sonja Hajdari, from Afghanistan.

The children from the Reception Centers in Vranje and Bujanovac are included in the school system, and in addition to school activities, they take part in other activities, too.

Muhamad Amin Ashali, a student from Afghanistan, says he likes to go to school: "It's very nice here. I hang out with everyone, I am learning and I have a lot of friends.” 

"They are very nice friends, not only in school, but also during extracurricular activities," says Mateja Jovic, a student from Bujanovac.

In Bujanovac, migrants and students prepared a joint show, after which they released balloons with New Year's greetings and messages.

Source: Serbian Broadcasting Corporation and Coordination Body