HIGHLIGHTS
The number of arrivals in Greece so far in September reached over 122,000 and exceeds the number of arrivals during August (107,800). Two tragedies took place off the coasts of Lesvos, 2 people died and 37-39 people, including many children, were estimated to have gone missing. While some improvements were reported, the registration process continues to vary by island and accommodation still fall short of the needs.
A third incident took place on 15 September off the coast of Turkey, during which least 22 lives were lost and 249 people rescued. UNHCR has persistently sought access to the survivors of the shipwreck who are in Turkey and will be able to interview them on Monday 28 September.
On 19 September, European Commissioner Hahn visited the Vinojug centre in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and promised further assistance and support to the authorities. The Government extended the declaration of a crisis situation until 15 June 2016.
The Government of Serbia has worked to improve its reception and registration capacity. UNHCR continues to provide information to new comers about registration and access to asylum procedures. UNHCR established an aid point at Berkasovo in Serbia and, together with authorities and partners distributed core relief items. Refugees and migrants were directed to Bapska on the other side of the border in Croatia, where UNHCR also provided assistance.
On 17 September, Croatia effectively closed its official border crossings with Serbia except one, however refugees and migrants continued to enter Croatia through the fields near the border crossing at Sid/Tovarnik. On 19 September Croatian authorities started registering arrivals at the official border crossing at Tovarnik. On 21 September, the crossing point changed to Berkasovo/Bapska, a small local crossing, and some 2,000 refugees remained stranded overnight in no man’s land. Refugees and migrants are now crossing the border at both points.
In Croatia, the new transit centre with a capacity of 4,000 persons opened at Opatovac on 20 September and operates at full capacity. It is estimated that some 15,000 persons transited through the centre before moving onwards.
The departure of buses led to tensions at the gate of the centre, but this has been resolved. UNHCR is providing assistance, information and together with partners is helping to prevent family separations and reunite family members that became separated.During the reporting period 39,000 persons have passed from Croatia to Hungary. Once in Hungary they are taken to Hegyeshalom and Szentgotthard, near the border with Austria. On 21 September, the Hungarian Parliament passed new legislation allowing significant deployments of the military at the border and the use non-lethal weapons against refugees and migrants. The Government has begun the building of a fence along the border with Croatia and has announced that a fence will also be built along its border with Romania.
Some 3,700 refugees and migrants arrived in Slovenia from Croatia between 17 and 21 September and have already moved onwards to Austria. No new arrivals were reported since in Slovenia.
On 22 September, the EU Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs adopted a decision on the relocation of an additional 120,000 people in need of international protection in addition to the initially agreed 40,000. During the EU Summit of 23 September, Heads of States agreed to provide additional funding to respond to the urgent needs of Syrian refugees in the countries neighbouring Syria and support the countries in the region. Increased funding will be made available address the root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa.