It was a truly compelling sight. I was deeply impressed with the work being done by the British military forces in this particular camp. It was stunning to learn that in less than 36 hours they had constructed and put up 4.000 tents to accommodate the 45.000 refugees that have poured into this particular part of Macedonia. There is another camp nearby in Brazda with some 12.000 people in it. I am told by the distinguished Ambassador from Macedonia that some 16.000 other Kosovars are living in the homes of people in Macedonia. In total. there are some 120.000 Kosovars in that one small country. geographically the size of Vermont. with only 2 million people. To put it into perspective for Americans. this is equivalent to 5 million people arriving on our shores to seek asylum in a 72 hour period. This influx of refugees represents a tremendous disruption in the economic life of Macedonia as it has in Albania. Mr. President. as I spent 4 hours or so wandering through the refugee camp walking by rows and rows of families huddled in tents or standing in lines to receive food and water. I noticed on every single tent a homemade sign written on cardboard with ballpoint pen or lipstick or whatever else that family could use. These signs would give a persons name and which town they had live in followed by: If you see or run into my mother. my father. my sister. my brother. or my child who is lost and separated. please tell them where I am.
Keywords matched
refugees seek asylum refugee