THE worst possible atrocities to be inflicted upon human beings are happening to thousands of refugees in Europe now – and a frontline aid worker is urging governments to help stop their suffering.

Marija Vranesevic was speaking to The National from Serbia, where around 7,500 people are housed in official refugee camps, with up to 2,000 more having chosen to stay in abandoned barracks, mostly for easier access to the smugglers whom they believe will help them into Europe.

The project manager for Serbia with the charity Philanthropy, said more than 90 per cent of people in the camps are from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq and they are all terrified, nervous and anxious about what is happening in Europe.

“There are things we in Europe have to be aware of and we are neglecting them, or perhaps we’re not even aware of them,” Vranesevic said.

“The worst possible atrocities towards human beings are happening in the middle of Europe now. Whatever you can imagine, it is happening in Europe – not only in the Balkans or on the borders – it’s happening all the way through France, Turkey to Germany or Norway or any of the other countries. It’s not acceptable for contemporary Europe.

“There are a large amount of children, small kids, newborn babies and a lot of unaccompanied minors and a huge amount of pregnant women, many have been raped. There are also women who say smugglers kidnapped their children.

“They requested money and the parents didn’t have it. What they say is that smugglers kidnap the whole family and keep the youngest child. They tell the other family members to collect a certain amount of money and come back in a couple of days to pick up the child.

“If a family manages to collect the money they get the child back, if not, the smugglers keep the child. It shouldn’t be like this.”

Vranesevic went on to question the justification for countries closing their borders, a move she said had led to criminal gangs making vast amounts of money, preying on those seeking refuge.

“People who are trying to travel have to pay smugglers and these people are capable of anything,” she said. “They’re not only smuggling people, they’re smuggling drugs and arms and I think Europe needs to be aware of that.

“We are also having people dying next to us that we will never be aware of. The ones who are lost in forests for days or weeks and die there – their bodies will never be collected.

“I would question the rationale that lies behind the closure of the borders. The tragic stories these people share with us, the unbelievable cruelty they’re exposed to is not acceptable and I find no excuse for that under any policy whatsoever.”

Philanthropy, a partner organ- isation of Christian Aid, has around 15 full-time staff in Serbia, with others engaged in specific camps.

“It also has more than 20 refugees and migrants who are long-term camp residents, and who help out as interpreters or in operational functions.

Germany is still the number one destination for the refugees, followed by Norway and Sweden. A smaller number would like to reach France, and in individual cases other countries, but Germany remains their main preference.

Vranesevic added: “The things that are happening in Europe are making them very nervous, scared and anxious. They didn’t want any of this and most say they are not the kind of people who would want to leave their country, but their situations are so bad they have no other option.

“They are completely aware of the challenges ahead of them travelling to other parts of Europe, but they don’t have any other option.”

As she spoke, heavy snow was falling in Belgrade, something of a blessing because it meant the temperature had risen from around --30C to -7C. But the strong Siberian wind brings that down closer to -17C.

Vranesevic said working in the camps was a very emotional experience: “It’s quite challenging,” she said. “Our purpose apart from providing direct assistance is also to make sure they understand what rights they have, what is going on in Europe, what they can expect. But we see people who are not prepared to accept that they don’t have a choice, and you can’t really push that far and continuously repeat ‘you won’t pass, you won’t pass’.

“In most cases these are very nice people who have experiencing horrible things both in their home countries and now travelling through Europe as well. By the time they reach Serbia they are completely exhausted and ill, and often they have been beaten or robbed and it’s a complete disgrace on humanity.

“I’m not a politician and I know there are all sorts of factors decision-makers consider before they do decide, but this is wrong.

“There has to be some other solution, because this is unacceptable.”