The migrant “Balkan route” was officially closed on 8 March, which for many refugees from Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan meant that they could not move further from Greece. Nevertheless, the smuggling channels continue to do their work, and thus minimum 100 refugees per day find themselves in Belgrade most of whom do not even know in which country they are. In addition to the deadly tour, refugees are usually left on the outskirts of the city, and often most of them get lost. There comes Praxis, and organization whose mobile teams patrol the city. Praxis is a non-governmental organization engaged in providing free legal aid and struggle for human rights. Praxis most often inform the refugees about the residing conditions in Serbia, but most of refuges learn only from Praxis that most of them could not go further. 

The experiences of Praxis’ volunteers are different and we can hear most of them in media. The never know what awaits them on a certain day, nor do the refugee they assist. When it rains, the refugees come frozen, wet, hungry and hopeless. Only later do they learn that Germany or Austria are banned for them at the moment. Few of them want to remain in Serbia, according to Praxis. However, their duty is also to explain the conditions of asylum in Serbia and asylum center near Belgrade.

"Get in line. Here you are. Food. Clothes are there. Signature here. Thank you. Next. And so from country to country. I'm sorry I'm crying. People help us, of course. Just, no one has honestly asked me for long ‘how are you’ (Man, 1960, Syria).” This is just of the sentences that volunteers of Praxis hear almost every day. Praxis’ refuge teams coordinator, Mirjana Nesic, told us what else they face and how difficult it is no help the people who have been on the road for months.

It was raining, and despite March it was still very cold. You must have had a lot of work, but it was a challenge to "catch" you for an interview. Can you first describe how one of your working day and your work with refugees look like?

Simply, this is a job that seizes  and draws you in. We have been postponing this conversation for so long…Some new situation always occurs and requires exactly you to be in the field. I have been doing this since September, when all this started, because I speak Arabic and Turkish. I started by assisting and it drew me into one hundred percent. I have been at all border crossings and worked in the field a lot. 

How do you manage to find them all over the town? How many of you in the organization do provide assistance to refugees?

Our team is basically the most mobile and our activity consists of patrolling. There are 15 of us, and we cover the field in three shifts. Volunteers patrol in groups, and it is the only way we can help the people well.

How do you help them?

In addition to providing humanitarian aid, because people are torn, wet, hungry, we talk to them. But the first problems occur there, because smugglers fill their heads with this and that, and that they should avoid us, among others. There are also fears of police that are always present. And in such situations, you should help them as soon as possible, as they themselves would say what they need that cannot be seen, such as maybe medical assistance. We also try to explain to them briefly their rights in this country, since they usually do not know where they are.

The official decision of Serbia is that they cannot enter Serbia, but still they are here. What do you advise them?

Officially they can no longer enter Serbia, but at least 100 of them are coming to Belgrade. Their only option is to seek asylum in Serbia, and we explain their advantages to them if they are asylum seekers. But, there are also those who are not interested at all.

What is your strongest impression? You really encounter with the tragic human destinies.

We can rank the impressions daily, since every day prevails something new. What is repeated is the great satisfaction you have when you get someone’s gratitude and the fact that someone has left to you to resolve the situation and that he/she just trusts you. 

We are aware that both in the media and on the street, one can see the prejudice against these people. Could you briefly explain to our young audience what you have learned by working with refugees?

That actually creates your empathy for people, you delete all the other prejudices that are served to you in the media. Whether we like it or not, we are all exposed to it, but when you meet an alive person who has experienced it, you become aware of how you do not agree with the existing models we are overcrowded with. 

Taken from the website of Omladinski Radio.