Refugee aid workers recall the 2015 Balkan crisis in Preševo, highlighting local solidarity against global indifference and bureaucratic failures.
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Ten years after the 2015 refugee crisis in Preševo, a town in southern Serbia, Agon Ajeti and Valon Arifi reflect on their experiences assisting hundreds of thousands of refugees. Ajeti remembers the period as the brightest time of his life, noting that the community successfully positioned Preševo as a highly hospitable location along the refugee route. Arifi, while acknowledging the community’s hospitality, views the overall event with disillusionment, criticizing global hypocrisy regarding war and freedom.
The major challenges included human trafficking and language barriers. Ajeti recalled the immense effort of managing thousands of refugees during a major influx in August 2015, an exhausting, nearly 36-hour continuous effort. Arifi shared poignant memories, such as helping a young boy whose mother had died and meeting an elderly woman from Damascus who felt a deep connection to her Albanian roots upon hearing the language spoken by local volunteers.
Both men noted that the local community was the first to respond to the crisis, demonstrating extraordinary humanity despite the region’s poverty. They praised the selfless efforts of international volunteers, contrasting them with the bureaucracy of international agencies. They criticized the central government and local institutions for failing to provide adequate support to Preševo, despite the town being the hardest hit.
Ultimately, they concluded that the experience taught them the strength of community and the enduring tradition of Albanian hospitality. They maintained personal friendships with many refugees, some of whom have since rebuilt lives in various European countries. While the crisis remains a source of pride and nostalgia for the locals, they feel that institutional support remained inadequate.
