Nightwalkers - Matej Povse photographer

NIGHTWALKERS

I put the title of the Nightwalkers to photo series, because refugees fleeing war on the way to safer place in Europe were most of the time crossing countries around at nighttime, so they were invisible and look like they might pose a threat for locals. Fear is endless.
Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and from some African countries try to reach a safe place to live. Europe looks like a safe place.

2015, November 10, Greece, Lesvos. A dangerous journey by rubber boat from Turkey to Greek island Lesvos for group more than twenty Syrian refugees.

2015, October 5, Croatia, Botovo. Group of refugees walking through the night, towards Croatian - Hungarian border.

2015, July 15, Serbian-Hungarian border. A small group of Syrians, Palestinians and Iraqis are waiting for the night to fall, so that they can run for cover through the endless fields of corn, pumpkins and sunflowers. Their only equipment is Google GPS.

2015, October 22, Rigonce, Slovenia. Refugee from Syria wrapped in the blanket and heated with fire is waiting on the field, after he passed the Croatian - Slovenian border. He was a part of a larger group of refugees. A little further they were stopped by police.

2015, October, 20, Slovenia, Brezice. Group of more than 1500 refugees on their five miles night walk to the nearby registration camp. After they walk across Croatian Slovenian border children, woman and men are forced once again to walk this long way.

2015, September 12, Serbia, Subotica. Refugee from Syria was stopped before the Hungarian border in the middle of the night. He did not know where to go further.

2015, July 15, Serbian-Hungarian border. A small group of Syrians, Palestinians and Iraqis are waiting for the night to fall, so that they can run for cover through the endless fields of corn, pumpkins and sunflowers. Their only equipment is Google GPS navigation.In constant fear of police patrols, they whisper, hiding in cornfields and river channels.

2015, October 5, Botovo, Croatia. Hungarian border police lit the torch toward the family approaching from Croatia to Hungary. Before Hungary closed the border, refugees were coming by train to the nearby train station Botovo and then they continue their journey by foot to the Hungarian border.

2015, September, 11, Serbia, Presevo. Because of the rain and more than 24 hours awaiting to be registered, some of them find place to stay in an abandoned shops in Presevo. Temporary shelter gives them feeling of safety and some time to rest.

2015, September 10, Presevo Serbia, town close to the border Macedonia - Serbia. During the night a child from Syria wrapped in blanket resting near registration centre in town Presevo, Serbia. Sometimes they have to wait more than 24 hours in the line to be registered by Serbian authorities. A paper obtained there allowed them to move around the country for five days. Most of them continue further north towards other countries.

2015, September, 13, Hungary, Roszke. Temporary camp for refugees on Hungarian border. Tents provided by volunteers were used for refugees from Syria to spend the night, before they were taken to the registration camp.

2015, October 23, Slovenia, Rigonce. Mother and her child from Syria wrapped in the blankets walking through the field in the night spotted from police helicopter, after they passed the Croatian - Slovenian border. They were part of a larger group of refugees. A little further they were stopped by Slovenian police and escorted to the registration camp.

2015, September 12, Serbia, Subotica. Refugees from Syria were stopped before the Hungarian border in the middle of the night. They were checking gps device, where to go further.

2015, October 27, Slovenia, Rigonce. Group of refugees from Syria walking through the field in the night, after they passed the Croatian - Slovenian border. They were part of a larger group of refugees. A little further they were stopped by Slovenian police and escorted to the registration camp.

2015, September 13, Hungary, Roszke. After they crossed Serbian - Hungarian border, refugees were waiting to be transported to nearby registration camp. Some of them spend the night in the tents provided by volunteers.

2015, October, 20, Slovenia. Group of more than 1500 refugees on their five miles night walk to the nearby registration camp. After they walk across Croatian Slovenian border children, woman and men are forced once again to walk this long way through the fields and past the chapel.

2015, October, 23, Slovenia, Rigonce. Policeman holding a refugee child on the way to the registration camp.