Asylum seekers suffer from tuberculosis, frostbites

BELGRADE Three asylum seekers from African countries have been hospitalized in western Serbia after spending a night in the woods, a daily is reporting. According to the Belgrade-based Blic newspaper, the forest is located near a center for asylum seekers in Bogovadja. Asylum seekers suffer from tuberculosis, frostbites The Serbian Commissariat for Refugees said that this center has enough room, and that the asylum seekers in question "were most likely the ones who were previously in the center in Tutin, but left of their own accord and headed toward Bogovadja on foot." A man from Somalia is now treated for tuberculosis in the hospital in the town of Valjevo, and his condition is currently stable. Another asylum seeker was admitted with fever and general weakness, and is currently under observation. Both told the doctors that they walked to Bogovadja in the frost, and that they "spent a while" in the woods. A third man, identified as Sabri Rakar from Eritrea, has been hospitalized with frostbites after spending a night outdoors near the camp in Bogovadja. Rakar told the daily that Serbia was a only a stop on his way to Britain, where he intended to seek permanent asylum, and described his ordeal: "Before I arrived at the camp I spent a few days walking through Serbia, because I couldn't afford transport fare. It was very cold all the time, I had no gloves, and my shoes fell apart. I would slip and fall in the snow and ice, my friends who traveled with me would help me get up. My hands and feet hurt very much, I could not move any longer. When they told us there was no more room at the camp, I asked for help. The doctors and nurses here are taking care of me, I'm receiving IV drip, they gave me some chocolate. The most important thing is that my hands and feet will not fall off." Last winter, two men from Mali, one from Palestine, and another from Syria were also treated at the Valjevo hospital for severe frostbites after spending several days walking toward Bogovadja wearing inadequate shoes for the season. The Commissariat, in the meanwhile, said that there is currently room in all the centers set up to accommodate asylum seekers. The camps in Bogovadja, Banja Koviljaca, Sjenica and Tutin can receive 535 people, while there are currently 400 who found shelter there. According to the Commissariat, a group of 30 refugees arrived in Bogovadja on Monday evening and were immediately accepted at the local Center. A file photo of an asylum seeker in Serbia (Tanjug, file) Blic

Asylum seekers suffer from tuberculosis, frostbites

The Serbian Commissariat for Refugees said that this center has enough room, and that the asylum seekers in question "were most likely the ones who were previously in the center in Tutin, but left of their own accord and headed toward Bogovađa on foot."

A man from Somalia is now treated for tuberculosis in the hospital in the town of Valjevo, and his condition is currently stable. Another asylum seeker was admitted with fever and general weakness, and is currently under observation. Both told the doctors that they walked to Bogovađa in the frost, and that they "spent a while" in the woods.

A third man, identified as Sabri Rakar from Eritrea, has been hospitalized with frostbites after spending a night outdoors near the camp in Bogovađa.

Rakar told the daily that Serbia was a only a stop on his way to Britain, where he intended to seek permanent asylum, and described his ordeal:

"Before I arrived at the camp I spent a few days walking through Serbia, because I couldn't afford transport fare. It was very cold all the time, I had no gloves, and my shoes fell apart. I would slip and fall in the snow and ice, my friends who traveled with me would help me get up. My hands and feet hurt very much, I could not move any longer. When they told us there was no more room at the camp, I asked for help. The doctors and nurses here are taking care of me, I'm receiving IV drip, they gave me some chocolate. The most important thing is that my hands and feet will not fall off."

Last winter, two men from Mali, one from Palestine, and another from Syria were also treated at the Valjevo hospital for severe frostbites after spending several days walking toward Bogovađa wearing inadequate shoes for the season.

The Commissariat, in the meanwhile, said that there is currently room in all the centers set up to accommodate asylum seekers. The camps in Bogovađa, Banja Koviljača, Sjenica and Tutin can receive 535 people, while there are currently 400 who found shelter there.

According to the Commissariat, a group of 30 refugees arrived in Bogovađa on Monday evening and were immediately accepted at the local Center.