STATISTICS AND HIGHLIGHTS
The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements continued her visit to Serbia. As part of the agenda the Deputy High Commissioner met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic and the Serbian Commissioner for Refugees, Vladimir Cucic. She also visited a refugee family from Croatia that is part of the UNHCR refugee housing programme (RHP).
It is estimate that up to 2,000 refugees and migrants are currently “stranded” in the country. The large majority of them is accommodated in facilities in the South and in the West. During the reporting period only three refugees arrived from Bulgaria while no departures were recorded.
SOUTH
No one arrived during the reporting period at the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point (RAP) from fYR Macedonia.
The situation of 472 refugees stranded on the fYR Macedonia side of the “white stone” remains unresolved since the 7 March. UNHCR together with civil society organisations assisted refugees with food, water, clothes and other humanitarian needs.
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.
More than 680 stranded refugees remain hosted in the RC. All facilities inside the RC were used, including 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 35 UNHCR blankets, four winter boots, 13 jackets and 381 water bottles. Public Doctors, MSF, Humedica and Natan treated 28 patients and the Health Center Vranje was available to provide reproductive health services. The UNICEF/DRC/CSW child friendly space hosted 21 children and 9 women. Caritas, REMAR and Red Cross Serbia distributed hot meal and fruits to stranded refugees.
EAST
A single woman with two children from Iraq arrived in Pirot where they expressed their intent to seek asylum in Serbia. She was later referred to the Tutin Asylum Centre (AC) and assisted by Sigma Plus to contact a relative in the AC Krnjaca.
BELGRADE
More than 120 refugees/migrants were assisted in Belgrade by UNHCR partners. They were mainly from Morocco, Algeria, Iraq or Afghanistan but also few from Syria and Iran. Over 50 were present at midnight 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.
WEST
Approximately 470 stranded refugees remained in the Sid RAP. No train arrived from Croatia to Sid train station, consequently there were no departures.
At Sid train station, UNHCR/HCIT distributed 159 UNHCR blankets, 400 WFP HEB, 1,248 water bottles, 33 winter jackets and 14 boots. IDC/Sid Health Centre and WAHA treated over 80 refugees.
Approximately 300 refugees were accommodated in Adasevci RAP, including 150 women with children were hosted in the motel rooms and others accommodated in rub halls. 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 10 refugees. The UNICEF/ WV/CSW child friendly space hosted one children and one woman.
Principovac RAP remained empty during the reporting period. However, in order to organise the RAP to host refugees for longer stay, UNHCR offered its support with WFP shower containers.
SCRM together with the Red Cross will provide hot meals.