Source: Radio Beograd 1  Photo: APC

Belgrade, 20 June 2019 – On the occasion of World Refugee Day, Misa Stojiljkovic hosted Rados Djurovic in the morning program of Radio Belgrade 1 “Catch the Day!”. During the show’s regular section “Question of the Morning” listeners were asked how they would solve the issue of migrants and how our country is dealing with refugees.

The largest number of refugees are people fleeing war or persecution, with which anyone living in the Balkans can empathize given the region’s history in the 20^th century, Djurovic said. It is therefore important to remember, especially on World Refugee Day, that everyone could face the refugee fate, and that the human attitude towards refugees is crucial in order to understand them and help them.

The general impression is that refugees are being criminalized in Europe, and more generally throughout the developed world, by politicians who want to gain some political points through widespread xenophobia. Djurovic claims that the media is also to blame, as it largely shapes the narrative surrounding refugees through its imagery.

Regarding the situation in our country, Serbia is still a transit country that is faced with permanent push backs, or illegal returns of refugees across the border where their right to asylum is denied. Having this situation in mind and being cognizant of the forever changing circumstances refugees face, it is important to note that many people wish to stay in Serbia. It is therefore necessary that special accommodation centers have the proper conditions for a normal life, keeping in mind the fact that refugees are more likely to stay there for two to three years.

According to UNHCR, a total of 71 million refugees were registered in 2018, which is the largest number of refugees since the organization’s inception over seven decades ago. has existed, which is just over seven decades.