The final eviction of the unofficial refugee camp Idomeni, located at the Greek border to the Republic of Macedonia, started in the morning of 24th of May 2016 (bordermonitoring.eu 2016). Idomeni is situated on the Balkan corridor, which has a long tradition for migration towards northern Europe, lasting at least since the 1970’s. For a long time the route was loosely monitored by border security and remained relatively accessible. Idomeni gained importance to refugees, especially after the Republic of Macedonia introduced a permit for migrants to reside in the country for 72 hours, in order to pass it. Shortly after the border got more and more restricted until its final shut down in early 2016 (bordermonitorin.eu 2917: 7 ff.). Up to 15.000 people stayed at the camp waiting for the border to open up again. Now, three years later, the chronic of Idomeni was reconstructed by several organizations working in the field of humanity. The Republic of Macedonia as well as Greece were accused of the violation of human rights. The camp of Idomeni influences today’s politics on migration in multiple ways. The changes of the camp imply the need for dynamic structures of humanitarian aid organizations.
The article, written by Antonia Mang, will reconstruct Idomeni’s chronic starting before it gained media attention through secondary analysis. It will recount historical and political developments as well as the happenings of human rights violations which are now on trial. Furthermore, it will recourse on today’s situations of refugees on the Balkan corridor and with it on the necessity of dynamic humanitarian aid organizations from a sociological perspective.
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