In recent days, we have met many migrants including unaccompanied migrants reporting apprehension followed by beatings by Serbian police in Southern Serbia. Some were transferred to camps after being mistreated, while others were pushed back by Serbian police to North Macedonia, but attempting re-entry afterwards. Migrants accommodated in both Presevo and Bujanovac transit reception camps reported that this pattern had become increasingly common over past 10 days.

Unaccompanied minors S.D. and S. Z. from Afghanistan entered Serbia from North Macedonia. They reported being pushed back twice by Serbian police before finally succeeding. On their first attempt, they crossed in a group of seven unaccompanied minors. They described how police apprehended them, forced them to lie face down with their heads to the ground, and beat them with batons, including on the soles of their feet after removing their shoes. Police took pictures of them and warned that their photos would be shared with all police units so they could be identified in future attempts. S.D.’s phone was broken after police discovered it had been using GPS location to follow the road. After staying 2 days in North Macedonia, they attempted the crossing again but were caught once more. They said police was brutal, beating them repeatedly with batons while they laid on the ground and they cried out for help. S.D. recounted that police had even held appointed guns to their heads, threatening to kill them if they would return/try again. Both boys showed bruises, with S.Z.’s visible injuries on his face.

Following the second pushback, both returned to North Macedonia for a day and then tried again to enter Serbia. This time, only three continued while the others, frightened by the violence, stayed behind, fearing that police might break their limbs if they were caught again crossing into Serbia. On their third attempt, they successfully entered Serbia and reached Bujanovac reception camp, where they were admitted without delays or problems. They requested medical assistance but reported that no care was provided in the camp.

Minors have been accommodated since 21.08.2025 and said they are relieved to be indoors after spending many nights in forests without food/fire. Despite exhaustion and hardship, both smiled often during the conversation and said they wanted to share their struggles. They also mentioned previous push backs and beatings done by Turkish and Greek police that didn’t stop them.

Unlike most minors, they were very talkative and eager to tell their story. Both expressed determinations to continue their journey, one towards Italy, and another to Switzerland. Their families remain in Jalalabad. S.Z. is still in touch with his family, while S.D. contacted his aunt, as he had lost his father years ago and felt responsible as the eldest son to take care for his family. He added that his mother is uneducated, explaining simply, “she doesn’t even know how to answer the phone.” Before entering Serbia, they stayed 6 days in North Macedonia, 3 months in Greece, and one year and 3 months in Turkey.

Y. M., H., K.S., S.R., S. A. and K. A. from Afghanistan entered Serbia in a group of 5 men, crossing from North Macedonia to Serbia. After entry, they were apprehended by Serbian police, who beat them with batons but did not push them back over the fence to N.Macedonia.

All five of them reached Bujanovac camp by taxi, where they were admitted without an issue. They were accommodated for 3 days in the Bujanovac camp and raised no major complaints, though they mentioned that medical assistance was not provided to them within the camp. Before entering Serbia, they had stayed one day in North Macedonia, 2 days in Greece, and one month in Turkey. They stated their intentions to move forward towards Italy or France. During the conversation, they were talkative, leaning forward, speaking loudly, and often talking over one another.