Ulrik Hasemann (Danish School of Journalism)
Stuck at Belgrade Station
Silver
International Picture Story
About 1,000 refugees and migrants sleep in abandoned warehouses, train wagons and shacks behind the central train station in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade. Heaps of garbage and feces pile up next to the blankets that have been their home for the past months. Almost all of them are boys and young men from conflict-torn parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. To keep warm, they make fires out of garbage and railway sleepers and the air is filled with toxic smoke around the train station. The borders to Hungary and Croatia are closed, so the refugees are stranded at the doorstep of the European Union. Some have tried to cross the border as many as 20 times, but they are usually caught by police, beaten and sent back to Belgrade. Meanwhile, the dream of immigrating farther into Europe gradually fades away. Hungary is about to build another fence and isn’t intensifying their border controls. Serbia has gone from being a transit point on the Balkan route to becoming a terminal one. Belgrade’s railway station has become an unintended destination.
Story: Stuck at Belgrade Station
Stuck at Belgrade Staton
About 1,000 refugees and migrants sleep in abandoned warehouses, train wagons and shacks behind the central train station in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade. They are trying to get to the neighboring EU-countries but the borders are closed as the EU tries to close down the Balkan refugee route.
Story: Stuck at Belgrade Station
Stuck at Belgrade Staton
Gathering at the fires inside the warehouses at night.
Story: Stuck at Belgrade Station
Stuck at Belgrade Staton
There is a smell of burnt plastic in the barracks. Rats are running between the garbage and mattresses on the floor. Lice and scabies are common among the refugees and many are coughing.
Story: Stuck at Belgrade Station
Stuck at Belgrade Staton
Many of the refugees have frostbite. The temperature here in winter can be as low as -20 degree Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Story: Stuck at Belgrade Station
Stuck at Belgrade Staton
Nasserkhan from Afghanistan heats water in a big rusty barrel. He has made fire by a mix of plastic waste and old railroad sleepers. It is possible to buy showers in the city but most do as Nasserkhan and take shower outside in the freezing cold.
Story: Stuck at Belgrade Station
Stuck at Belgrade Staton
The refugees are trying to cross to Hungary and Croatia but the borders are closed and there are many reports of police violence and dog bites. Obeytuallah, 16, from Afghanistan says he was beaten by the police at the borders. Others say his wounds are from a fight in the camp.
Story: Stuck at Belgrade Station
Stuck at Belgrade Staton
Afghan Amid Khan is 14 years old. He has no family in the barracks and he has been here for six months. He has tried to cross the border to Hungary ten times he says but with no luck and he is now stuck at the train station.
Story: Stuck at Belgrade Station
Stuck at Belgrade Staton
The air in the warehouses are filled with smoke from fires burning with plastic and wooden railroad sleepers.