MARKO DROBNJAKOVIC

Photography: The Abandoned

In 2017, around 1,500 migrants and refugees who have fled war and poverty in their countries in hopes of reaching Western Europe, have found temporary shelter in an abandoned warehouse in Belgrade, the Serbian capital. Men and boys have occupied the decrepit complex as they waited for an opportunity to move on toward neighboring EU nations.  

Several thousand migrants have remained stranded in Serbia since the so-called Balkan route officially closed in March of 2016. Hundreds of people still crossed illegally into Serbia from Bulgaria or Macedonia on a daily basis, before moving on, seeking the help of smugglers to cross the heavily guarded EU borders.  

  • People queue for food distribution by an aid group, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 30, 2017.
  • People take a bath while heating water in an old oil drum, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 19, 2017.
  • Grafitti made by refugees are seen on an empty container they used for shelter, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 23, 2017.
  • Refugees use an open air garage as shelter, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 18, 2017.
  • A man wakes up  inside a decrepit warehouse he and others use as shelter, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 19, 2017.
  • Two men keep warm by a fire inside the abandoned customs warehouse, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 5, 2017.
  • Qutratullah, 12, a young boy from Afghanistan, warms himself by the fire inside a warehouse, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan 26, 2017.
  • A man uses warm water for basic hygiene, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 30, 2017.
  • Refugees squat as they eat a meal provided by volunteers, Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 7, 2017.
  • Clothes left out to dry overnight are frozen due to extremely low temperatures, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 26, 2017.
  • A youth poses for a photograph while wrapped in a blanket to stay warm, Belgrade, Serbia, Jan. 23, 2017.
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