KEY FIGURES
- 894,511 Refugees and migrants arriving by sea to Europe in 2015.
- 3,515 Refugees and migrants estimated to have died / gone missing at sea in 2015.
- 746,714 Sea arrivals in Greece as of 3 December.
- 4,560 Average daily sea arrivals in Greece from 27 November - 3 December 2015.
- 144,100 Sea arrivals in Italy as of 3 November.
- 299,852 UNHCR high and medium thermal blankets distributed since the start of the crisis.
- 26,419 UNHCR sleeping mats distributed since the start of the crisis.
- USD 83.2M: Total 2015 requirements for the Special Mediterranean Initiative, including winterization activities in Europe. USD 45.2M: Funding received (54 per cent).
PRIORITIES
- Boost reception capacity and provide emergency assistance in receiving countries through support for States, civil society and local communities.
- Strengthen protection systems
and prevent refoulement including through presence and capacity building.
- Increase strategic messaging and advocacy to and about people of concern.
Highlights
Governments in the Balkans still only allow the border crossing of Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan nationals. UNHCR, in cooperation with governments and partners, continued to distribute assistance along the route. UNHCR also has provided information on the right to apply for asylum and monitored access to asylum.
In recent days, tensions rose at Eidomeni, on the Greek side of the border, leading on several occasions to violence and a temporary closure of the border. UNHCR has expressed concerns and countries to manage the border in a manner consistent with human rights and called on the authorities of both refugee-protection principles.
On 29 November, European Union (EU) leaders and Turkey’s Prime Minister, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, held talks to re-energize Turkey’s accession process and followed up on the Joint Action Plan, adopted on 15 October 2015. The EU will provide EUR 3 billion to assist Syrian refugees in Turkey. The statement is available online.
The UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Mr. George Okoth- Obbo, and the Regional Coordinator for the European Refugee Emergency and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe, Mr. Vincent Cochetel, visited Croatia on 26-27 November, where they met with government officials and discussed winterization efforts and UNHCR’s support.
The Hungarian Government has launched a new “anti-refugee” campaign with full-page advertisement appearing in newspapers. The text declares that “The compulsory relocation quota enhances the danger of terror!” and that “We do not know who they are nor what their intentions are. We do not know how many of them are terrorists in disguise.” The advertisements are presented as “government information” alongside the EU and Hungary flags.
OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
Arrivals in Greece picked up amid improved weather with 22,456 new arrivals. The total arrivals during November are 136,827 people, with an average of 4,560 arrivals per day. The Palio Faliro temporary accommodation facility in Athens started operating on 30 November. As a result of restrictions by the authorities along the Western Balkans route to the admission of refugees and migrants from countries other than Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, on 2-3 December tensions rose at Eidomeni, on the Greek side of the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, leading on several occasions to violence and a temporary closure of the border.
UNHCR issued a press release on 3 December calling on the authorities of both countries to manage the border in a manner consistent with human rights and refugee-protection principles, and expressed sadness for the death of a Moroccan man at the border under as yet unclear circumstances. In a meeting in Paris with the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Gjorge Ivanov, the Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Alexi Tsipras, stressed that refugees should not remain stranded at the border. Both leaders agreed that the dialogue should continue. Mr. Tsipras expressed satisfaction over the agreement reached in the recent EU-Turkey Summit meeting in Brussels. With regards to the most recent development in Eidomeni, the Greek Alternate Minister of Migration Policy, Mr. Yiannis Mouzalas, announced to the Parliament that the government was seeking a solution within four or five days that “avoided use of violence and bloodshed” and allowed to remove those who are prevented to cross the border “in the best possible way without depriving them of prospects”. From 27 November to 3 December, 17,669 people entered the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ().
The situation was generally calm at the Vinojug site; however, as a result of the situation at the border with Greece, no-one was able to cross into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as of 2 December afternoon. On 30 November, the Ombudsman of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and his Austrian counterpart visited the Vinojug centre. The Ombudsman emphasized that the Government needs to treat all refugees without discrimination, with full respect for their human rights, and ensure their access to the territory and right to apply for asylum regardless of nationality. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonian army is setting up a metal fence along the Greek border.
The Government stated that the purpose of the fence is to prevent irregular movements outside the current border crossing point near the Gevgelija/Vinojug transit centre.
In Serbia, 19,043 asylum-seekers arrived between 27 November and 3 December, with a daily average of 3,000. An increase was noted among arrivals from Bulgaria, from 180 on 1 December to over 420 on 2 December. Wet winter weather made paths and roads from the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point (RAP) muddy and arduous for refugees and migrants, particularly those with specific needs. The Government is considering opening a new route to avoid the current muddy path.
In Hungary, the total number of arrivals in 2015 has reached 391,148. In the reporting period, the police apprehended 35 refugees and migrants after irregular entry, mainly from Serbia. The number of asylum applications registered so far this year is 176,892. In November, the Hungarian authorities registered more than 300 new asylum claims which represent 89 per cent decrease in comparison to October (2805 asylum applications). According to Government data, as of 30 November, 805 individuals are detained in asylum detention centres and in various prison facilities. Some 21,272 entered Croatia.
As a consequence of the border restrictions, only nationals from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq arrived to the Winter Reception Transit Centre (WRTC) in Slavonski Brod from Serbia. Transfers from Šid (Serbia) to Garcin, Slavonski Brod and onward continue to operate smoothly.
The Croatian Minister of the Interior, Mr. Ranko Ostojić, stated that the current border policy would remain in force until the EU takes a clear position on the matter. There were 20,344 new arrivals to Slovenia, the majority in Dobova being Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan nationals.
Transfers from the reception facility in Dobova to Jesenice/Karavanke and to Šentilj continue. Following his meeting with the Croatian Prime Minister (Mr. Zoran Milanović) in the margins of the EU-Turkey Summit, the Slovene Prime Minister (Mr. Miro Cerar) stated that Slovenia will continue to erect the fence at its border with Croatia to re-direct the flow to entry points. He emphasized that Slovenia will remove the fence when it becomes clear that the flow towards Slovenia has stopped.
There were 20,959 new arrivals to Austria. The time limit for providing comments to the draft Asylum Act amendment was completed on 30 November. UNHCR and other institutions expressed concern on the proposed restrictions to the right to family reunion and the automatic review of positive decisions three years after recognition of refugee status. The changed constitution, which entered into force on 1 October 2015, has allowed the Federal State to set up 3,000 additional reception places without the permission of local mayors.
No refugees and migrants arrived by sea in Italy in the reporting period. In November 2015 only some 3,100 persons arrived by sea, indicating a 65 per cent decrease compared to November 2014. This curbing trend which started in September this year, can be partially explained by the 30 per cent decrease of Syrian arrivals, who are now primarily using the Eastern Mediterranean route to reach Europe.