Highlights
On 17 December, Minister Aleksandar Vulin opened a new Refugee Aid Point (RAP) in Miratovac, 1.2 km from the border with fYRo Macedonia. Together with the Ambassador of Norway, Minister Vulin also opened the first phase of the Preševo Tobacco factory renovation, increasing the heated overnight shelter capacity of the Reception Centre (RC) in Preševo by 120 beds. On the occasion of International Day of Migrants 18 December, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy Mr. Aleksandar Vulin, H.E. Mr. Juichi Takahara, Ambassador of Japan in Serbia and UNHCR Representative Mr. Hans Schodder visited the RC in Preševo. The Government of Japan supported the provision of medical assistance, food, hygiene and wash in Miratovac RAP and Preševo RC. The Ambassador of Japan also handed the keys of two mini buses to IOM mobile teams who transport refugees from Miratovac to Preševo. The number of daily refugee arrivals averaged 2,850.
Intention to apply for asylum (Source: Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia) 20,703 refugees and migrants registered their intention to seek asylum during the reporting period.
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS
Operational Context
Serbia is situated along the preferred route through the Western Balkans for refugees originating from the Middle East and Asia, aiming to seek asylum in Europe. UNHCR estimated that at any given time some 3,000 refugees were on Serbian territory in the reporting period. During this week, the weather remained cold but generally dry.
The number of arrivals into Serbia from Bulgaria further decreased, with an average of 104 asylum-seekers arriving daily across the entire stretch of this border. Around 100 asylum-seekers were assisted in Belgrade on average each day.
The practice of denying entry to refugees and migrants from countries other than Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq continued.
14 December marked the first entry from fYR Macedonia, on an exceptional basis, through an official border Preševo-Tabanovce crossing of a prematurely born baby and her refugee family from Iraq, following an agreement with fYR Macedonia authorities that persons with special needs (PWSNs) may be transported directly from the border to Preševo Reception Centre (RC).
New RAP in Miratovac is closer to the railway and had been moved from the previous location with the support from IOM. The new RAP has the capacity of a temporary resting place for 400-500 refugees. There are 29 containers in the new Miratovac RAP: 16 for resting purposes, 6 for vulnerable refugees, 4 for border police, 1 for storage and 1 each for IOM and UNHCR teams, who are now present in Miratovac 24/7.
UNHCR, SCRM, Police, the Medical Centre, Red Cross, UNICEF/DRC, Caritas, DRC, and Remar assisted asylum seekers 24/7 at Preševo RC. UNFPA, IOM, Natan, ADRA, Care international/Nexus, SOS Children, OXFAM 484 and Global Medic were assisting asylum-seekers during the day. IRC, APC, Youth for Refugees, Atina and MSF were present outside the RC.
UNHCR, HCIT, WAHA, and SCRM were assisting asylum-seekers 24/7 at the Šid train station. SCRM, Police, UNHCR, APC, Red Cross Serbia, CRS/Foundation Divac assisted asylum seekers 24/7, and BCM, World Vision, Vizija, Mercy Corps, REMAR, Czech Volunteers, INTERSOS and OM were providing assistance during daytime at Adaševci RAP.