Macedonia's extreme poverty
2012-01-30By Tomislav Georgiev for Southeast European Times
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Email this to a friendDence Dokuzovski School in the village of Mavrovi Anovi has become the
temporary home for 38-year-old Dunavka Gjorgievska and her four
children.
The room with heating, electricity and water -- where they moved a month
ago -- is like a luxury apartment for the family, who has been living in the
ruins of century-old stone house in the village of Leunovo, 10km away, for
years.
No entry door, collapsed walls, a hole in the roof – was the house they
called home.
The family used an old stove as a heater for the one room they habitated --
the old refrigerator was always empty. The only income the family has -- child
care support from the government -- is not enough for food.
The house had no bathroom -- Dunavka used a tin can to bathe the children.
Two-year-old Daniel (pictured), 9-year-old Ilinka, 11-year-old Dalibor and
15-year-old Dostana spent days in the room with no light.
According to Macedonia's State Statistical Office, every third citizen in
the country lives under the margin of poverty, like the Gjorgievskis.
However, poverty is just part of Dunavka's problems. Her older son,
Dalibor, has epilepsy that is not being treated. Dunavka -- whose husband is in
prison -- has no money to seek treatment for her son.
Because of the disease, Dalibor is not able to go to classes. Ilinka is the
only one in the family who attends school.
The Helsinki Committee in Macedonia notified state institutions about the
Gjorgievskis’ case last year, and has asked local authorities to help the
family.
The municipality plans to build a new house for the family,
Mavrovo-Rostushe Mayor Mukrem Mehmedi said. Gjorgievski and her children will
live at the school until the home is finished being built.
The mayor’s office also placed information about the family in local
newspapers and called for help.
