Round table on the topic “Migrations as new challenge for the Tracing Service for missing persons and restoring family links of Macedonian Red Cross”

Joint approach for coping with the challenges

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Each day thousands of families are separated as a result of a conflict, natural disaster or migrations. Human suffering is big when contacts are disconnected with the closest and dearest persons and when there isn’t any information about their whereabouts and destinies. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies work united around the world to locate such cases and to help families to restore family links. In context of the European phenomena of migrations, which is becoming increasingly important worldwide, and which also affects Republic of Macedonia, on November 25, 2014 Macedonian Red Cross organized a round table on the topic “Migrations as new challenge for the Tracing Service for missing persons and restoring family links of Macedonian Red Cross”, for purpose of presentation of the activities of the Tracing Service of Macedonian Red Cross in this area. The round table was initiated as a result of the common interest for positive resolution of the problem of migrations in the Republic of Macedonia. The event was a good opportunity for speaking about different aspects of migrations and opportunities for joint action in this area in the Republic of Macedonia. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Centre for asylum seekers, and the Transit Centre for migrants, UNHCR and non-governmental organizations. The Red Cross in partnership with these organizations aims to respond to the challenge of increased number of migrants in our country. The meeting was organized in cooperation with the Regional Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross and it was also attended by representatives of the Red Cross of Serbia and Bulgarian Red Cross who exchanged experiences in this area, being faced with similar situations in their respective countries. Besides the activities of the Tracing Service, Macedonian Red Cross had the opportunity to present the project activities implemented through the Department for Migrations of Macedonian Red Cross. At the end of the meeting the participants concluded that such initiatives for joint approach for resolving common challenges are very useful in terms of finding lasting solutions to the existing problems in this area. The participants also emphasized that such type of communication is welcomed and that it should become positive practice in future.