KEY FIGURES
- 921,713 Refugees and migrants arriving by sea to Europe in 2015.
- 3,580 Refugees and migrants estimated to have died / gone missing at sea in 2015.
- 768,916 Sea arrivals in Greece as of 10 December.
- 3,720 Average daily sea arrivals in Greece from 4 - 10 December 2015.
- 149,500 Sea arrivals in Italy as of 10 December.
- 309,097 UNHCR high and medium thermal blankets distributed since the start of the crisis.
- 29,823 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 72.9M: Funding received (88 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
On 10 December, the European Commission adopted eight infringement decisions towards Member States for failing to fully transpose and implement the provisions of the Common European Asylum System. The commission urges Greece, Croatia and Italy to correctly implement the Eurodac Regulation and requests Greece and Malta to communicate the measures taken to transpose the Asylum Procedures Directive and the Reception Conditions Directive. This is the first step of a process whereby concerned countries have two months to reply. In the absence of satisfactory replies or notifications, the European Commission can decide to continue with the infringement proceedings.
On 9 December following a tripartite meeting, the President of Egypt, the President of Cyprus and the Prime Minister of Greece signed the Athens Declaration stating their readiness to respond to the humanitarian aspects of the refugee crisis, in cooperation with all affected countries.
At the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 4 December in Brussels, Ministers of Interior discussed the hotspots, the relocation mechanism and the Schengen agreement. The Luxembourg Presidency underlined the continued difficulties in the implementation of hotspots but welcomed Greece’s calls for FRONTEX Rapid Border Intervention Teams (RABIT), the deployment of FRONTEX at the border between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the activation of the Civil Protection Scheme.
OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
So far this year, there were 791,570 arrivals in Greece, including 26,042 arrivals from 4 to 10 December. There were 3,253 arrivals on 9 December in comparison with an average of 3,800 daily arrivals from 1 to 8 December.
On 9 December, a shipwreck occurred off the coast of Farmakonisi. The Hellenic Coast Guard rescued 26 persons. Twelve bodies were found and 10-13 persons are still missing. According to the official press release from the Hellenic Coast Guard, the boat was carrying 47-50 refugees.
The following morning in the same area, a boat reportedly carrying at least 37 passengers sank in the waters between Greece and Turkey. The Hellenic Coast Guard launched a Search and Rescue mission and saved four and transferred them to Farmakonisi. Two other passengers were rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard and brought back to the Turkish shore. Four bodies were recovered by the Hellenic Coast Guard and 27 people were still missing as ongoing search and rescue operations continued.
Restrictions along the Balkans route continue to be enforced based on nationality. The Greek Police conducted an operation in Eidomeni on 9 December, from the early morning to the late afternoon, to evacuate persons of nationalities not allowed to cross the border between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. During the removal operation, the Police stopped buses with new arrivals at Polykastro (5 km from the border area) in order to prevent congestion. Afterwards, they were allowed to proceed; Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis disembarked and crossed the border. By the end of the operation, 45 buses departed for Athens from Eidomeni, carrying 2,250 persons directed to the reception facility of Palio Faliro (Tae Kwon Do stadium). UNHCR supplied two additional rub halls upon request by the Greek authorities in Athens to help accommodate these large numbers.
The official government gazette announced the creation of a hotspot in Linopoti on Kos. However, preparatory work by the Army to construct it has not started due to protests from the local community. A demonstration against the establishment of the hotspot in the urban centre of Linopoti took place on 9 December with around 250 participants.
Some 23,131 people entered the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The policy of denying access to the territory, as well as deporting persons who are not Syrian, Afghani or Iraqi continued. From 4 to 9 December, 363 people were returned to Greece. UNHCR’s partner the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA) informed all of them of the possibility to apply for asylum, but no one opted to do so.
Between 4-10 December, there were 23,202 arrivals in Serbia, with a daily average of 3,315. During the reporting period, the number of intentions to seek asylum in Serbia in 2015 broke the half-million mark. Winterization of emergency shelters and waiting areas is progressing; UNHCR and partners provided protection and assistance to asylum-seekers 24/7 at all sites.
In Hungary, the Police apprehended 80 refugees and migrants after irregular entry, mainly arriving from Serbia. The total number of arrivals during 2015 has reached 391,216 (69 in the reporting period). The number of asylum applications registered is 176,892. So far the Hungarian authorities have registered 50 new asylum claims. According to Government data, as of 10 December 747 individuals are detained in asylum detention centers and in various prison facilities.
From 4 to 10 December, 21,385 people entered Croatia. Only persons from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq arrived from Serbia to the Winter Reception and Transit Centre (WRTC) in Slavonski Brod. The WRTC fast track procedures resumed and new arrivals were transported directly to Garcin train station after registering and receiving assistance.
There were 22,352 new arrivals to Slovenia, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, including a significant number of families with small children. The total number of arrivals in Slovenia since 17 October 2015 has reached more than 300,000. According to the Slovenian Ministry of Interior (MoI), the construction of a razor-wire fence on the border with Croatia went on and 110 kilometers of barriers have been erected so far.
There were 25,084 new arrivals to Austria. The construction of the 4 km-long fence at the border crossing point in Spielfeld/Sentilj (Austrian/Slovenian border) started. It is expected that the fence will be completed before 25 December. According to Austrian authorities, the fence will not affect border crossings but only channel arrivals through the official border point.
Following almost 10 days without any sea arrivals, some 5,300 refugees and migrants arrived in Italy during the reporting period following their rescue at sea, compared to over 3,200 in the entire month of November. Among the new arrivals, there are over 650 persons of nationalities eligible for the relocation scheme.
In Germany, the Federal (Border) Police registered 4,983 new arrivals on 9 December (4,339 of them in Bavaria).
The Federal Cabinet has approved the introduction of a central identification document for asylum seekers. Starting in summer 2016, the so-called “Ankunftsausweis” (arrival ID) will be the only registration document containing all information of the ID holder which can be accessed by all authorities involved in the registration and asylum process. A draft law is expected to go through the parliament and the Federal Council in January 2016.
UNHCR, in cooperation with governments and partners, continued to distribute assistance along the route. As of 10 December, around 309,100 blankets, almost 14,990 hygiene kits, around 29,820 sleeping mats or rubber mats, and around 86,370 raincoats and other essential relief items were distributed.