Vulnerable and Looking for a Home

The very young, the aged and the disabled face especially difficult challenges while waiting to cross borders in Europe.

Little Muhamad was reunited with his parents after four days apart.
© UNHCR/Mark Henley

By: Céline Schmitt   |  28 October 2015

More than 705,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean Sea this year, including 562,000 in Greece. In many places strict border management procedures are now in place. Refugees are not allowed to cross for a certain time in order to avoid overcrowding and to wait until transit centres have capacity to receive more refugees. This creates backlogs, which can in turn lead to frustration, frayed tempers and more confusion.

  • Naasan, a Syrian refugee, clings to his four-year-old son, Muhamad. He and his wife lost the boy in a crowd at the border between Serbia and Croatia. It took four days, but UNHCR and Red Cross staff on both sides of the border worked together to reunite the boy with his parents.
    Naasan, a Syrian refugee, clings to his four-year-old son, Muhamad. He and his wife lost the boy in a crowd at the border between Serbia and Croatia. It took four days, but UNHCR and Red Cross staff on both sides of the border worked together to reunite the boy with his parents. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • A mother and her children huddle under blankets in the mud at the Serbian border with Croatia. UNHCR distributes blankets and tents to help refugees keep warm, especially women, children and the elderly.
    A mother and her children huddle under blankets in the mud at the Serbian border with Croatia. UNHCR distributes blankets and tents to help refugees keep warm, especially women, children and the elderly. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • Gabriel*, who was an English teacher in Syria, contracted polio as a child and walks with crutches. UNHCR staff pulled him from the line of those waiting to register at the Presevo reception centre in Serbia to check on his needs.<br><br><em>*not his real name</em>
    Gabriel*, who was an English teacher in Syria, contracted polio as a child and walks with crutches. UNHCR staff pulled him from the line of those waiting to register at the Presevo reception centre in Serbia to check on his needs.

    *not his real name © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • Gabriel* receives assistance at the medical unit at Presevo reception centre in Serbia. Refugees and migrants must pass through Presevo to register. They also receive clothing, food and medical treatment.<br><br><em>*not his real name</em>
    Gabriel* receives assistance at the medical unit at Presevo reception centre in Serbia. Refugees and migrants must pass through Presevo to register. They also receive clothing, food and medical treatment.

    *not his real name © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • Mohamed, a refugee from Syria, waits at the Serbia -- "Croatia border with his wife Fatima and their two babies, aged three months and two years. A UNHCR protection officer there pulls them from the crowd to provide assistance.
    Mohamed, a refugee from Syria, waits at the Serbia -- "Croatia border with his wife Fatima and their two babies, aged three months and two years. A UNHCR protection officer there pulls them from the crowd to provide assistance. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • Alexandra, a UNHCR emergency response and protection officer, speaks with two brothers who fled Syria and have now crossed the border from Greece into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. She has arranged for an ambulance to take the brothers to Vinojug reception centre in Gevgelija, where they will be registered.
    Alexandra, a UNHCR emergency response and protection officer, speaks with two brothers who fled Syria and have now crossed the border from Greece into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. She has arranged for an ambulance to take the brothers to Vinojug reception centre in Gevgelija, where they will be registered. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • Ismail, an 80-year-old refugee from Syria, sits in his wheelchair outside a tent at Vinojug reception centre in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He is waiting for the rest of his family, which includes 23 people spanning three generations. The family will receive food, clothing and medical help.
    Ismail, an 80-year-old refugee from Syria, sits in his wheelchair outside a tent at Vinojug reception centre in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He is waiting for the rest of his family, which includes 23 people spanning three generations. The family will receive food, clothing and medical help. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • Diana, a UNHCR protection officer, searches the crowd at the Berkasovo border, between Serbia and Croatia, for vulnerable people who need immediate help, including pregnant women, mothers with young children, the elderly and people with disabilities or serious illness.
    Diana, a UNHCR protection officer, searches the crowd at the Berkasovo border, between Serbia and Croatia, for vulnerable people who need immediate help, including pregnant women, mothers with young children, the elderly and people with disabilities or serious illness. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • Beghum, 80, from Afghanistan, waits to be reunited with her family. She was travelling with family members but lost them lost in the crowd.
    Beghum, 80, from Afghanistan, waits to be reunited with her family. She was travelling with family members but lost them lost in the crowd. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • UNHCR found Beghum's family at Presevo transit centre in Serbia and reunited them there not long after.
    UNHCR found Beghum's family at Presevo transit centre in Serbia and reunited them there not long after. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • An Afghan woman wears a surgical mask for warmth while waiting at the Serbian border with Croatia.
    An Afghan woman wears a surgical mask for warmth while waiting at the Serbian border with Croatia. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
  • Tents were erected to help protect some of the 2,000 refugees and migrants stranded in the rain in Berkasovo, Serbia, just across the border from Croatia.
    Tents were erected to help protect some of the 2,000 refugees and migrants stranded in the rain in Berkasovo, Serbia, just across the border from Croatia. © UNHCR/Mark Henley

It is a miserable wait. As ever, the most vulnerable – young, old, women and disabled – are at most risk.

To address this situation, UNHCR has called for a series of stabilization measures, including strong support to countries hosting the vast majority of Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan refugees; an information campaign about the dangers of the sea journey; and the development of legal pathways to seek protection in Europe.

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