STATISTICS AND HIGHLIGHTS
The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements is visiting the UNHCR Operation in Serbia. As part of her mission to the South of the country, together with the Minister of Labour, Aleksandar Vulin, she visited the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point (RAP) and the Presevo Reception Centre (RC) where she met with the stranded refugees. The Deputy High Commissioner was also able to visit the 437 refugees, including many women and children, stranded on the fYR Macedonia side of the border on the “white stone” since 7 March.
No arrivals and departures of refugees were recorded.
SOUTH
No one arrived during the reporting period at the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point (RAP) from fYR Macedonia.
In Presevo Reception Centre (RC) UNHCR, SCRM, Police, Medical Centre, ADRA, Red Cross, IOM, UNICEF/DRC, Caritas, DRC, BCM/CRS and REMAR assisted refugees 24/7 at the RC. Natan, Humedica, Care international/Nexus, SOS Children, OXFAM 484, Global Medic and Indigo were present during the day. Save the Children, APC, Youth for Refugees, Atina, Border Free, Mercy Corps and MSF were active outside the RC.
Over 680 stranded refugees remain hosted in the RC. All facilities inside the RC were used, including the 35 UNHCR Refugees Housing Units and the Tobacco Factory dormitories. Also, approximately 20 refugees/migrants were accommodated outside the RC in MSF, Mercy Corps and Border Free tents.
UNHCR and partners distributed 34 UNHCR blankets, five winter boots, one jacket and 865 water bottles. Public Doctors, MSF, Humedica and Natan treated 21 patients and the Health Center Vranje was available to provide reproductive health services. The UNICEF/DRC/CSW child friendly space hosted 39 children and 17 women. Caritas, REMAR and Red Cross Serbia distributed hot meal and fruits to stranded refugees.
BELGRADE
Over 120 refugees/migrants were assisted in Belgrade by UNHCR partners. They were mainly from Morocco, Algeria, Iraq or Pakistan but also few from Syria and Afghanistan. Some 70 were present at night in the city.
Many sought aid in food, clothes, use of internet and referrals to various services, including hospitals, registration and asylum information. SCRM, UNHCR/DRC, Red Cross and Refugee Aid Miksalište assisted them. Caritas distributed food and clothes at the park near the railway. MSF offered primary health care and distributed NFIs. Asylum Info Centre remained open 24/7 and assisted twelve Iraqis to reach Krnjaca Asylum Center (AC) and four Afghans to Tutin AC.
WEST
No train arrived from Croatia to Sid train station, consequently there were no departures of refugees. About 800 refugees remained in Sid and Adasevci RAPs, including over 300 with new registration documents who arrived in the previous days from Presevo, and those who have been denied boarding trains by Croatian authorities.
At Sid train station, UNHCR/HCIT distributed 102 UNHCR blankets, 500 WFP HEB, 1,146 water bottles, 80 winter jackets and nine boots. IDC/Sid Health Centre and WAHA treated 80 refugees. UNHCR assisted one Iraqi unaccompanied child.
Some 300 refugees who arrived from Presevo two days ago remain in Adasevci RAP. UNHCR, SCRM, Police, APC, Red Cross Serbia, MSF, CRS/Divac Foundation, BCM, REMAR, OM and Czech Volunteers assisted refugees 24/7; World Vision, Intersos, Caritas, TDH, EHO, DRC and NSHC during the day. MSF and BCM/Sid Health Centre provided medical assistance to 42 refugees.
The UNICEF/ WV/CSW child friendly space was open and hosted 74 children and 60 women. The Red Cross and Caritas distributed food on buses. REMAR offered hot tea and soup. CRS/Divac Foundation distributed adult and children’s winter clothes and footwear.