Global NGO World Vision has set up child-friendly areas in several countries worldwide where child refugees can play, rest and receive psychological assistance during their perilous journeys with their families to reach the European Union. IBTimes UK spoke with Weihui Wang, World Visions child protection and participation lead in Serbia, on the importance of these areas.
These areas are a safe place where children can play and find some normality, she said. Its a safe place where they can be themselves, they can be with their parents and find a little bit of normal life again. In a lot of ways, its very important psychologically to have a space like that.
Serbia is merely a transit point for refugees, who usually spend less than 24 hours in the country. However, when authorities temporarily close crossing points due to security issues or to stagger the refugee influx, thousands of people, including pregnant women and children, sleep in makeshift camps in the freezing cold.
IBTimes UK travelled to Serbia courtesy of World Vision UK. Click here for more information about the World Vision UK refugee crisis appeal.
