HIGHLIGHTS
Minister Aleksandar Vulin opened a new Refugee Aid Point (RAP), 1.2 km from the border with fYRo Macedonia. Though this increases refugee and migrants' access to first aid and emergency shelter, it does not relief them from being exposed to the winter climate when having to walk five kilometres from Tabanovce to Miratovac village, from where UNHCR-funded buses can take them to the Reception Centre (RC) in Presevo.
Together with Ambassador Arne Sannes Bjørnstad of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Minister Vulin also opened the first phase of the Tobacco factory renovation, increasing the heated overnight shelter capacity of the RC by 120 beds. UNHCR and partners supported authorities in protecting and assisting asylum-seekers 24/7, while also winterisation activities progressed at all sites.
• 3,438 refugees and migrants arrived: 3,246 from fYRo Macedonia and 192 from Bulgaria.
• 3,192 asylum seekers departed to Croatia.
• 3,404 asylum seekers were registered, bringing the total of asylum-requests in 2015 to 539,928