STATISTICS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Monthly Asylum Statistics indicate that of officers under the Ministry of Interior registered 2,211 arrivals during March 2016. Of these 699 expressed intention to seek asylum in Serbia while 1,512 were issued transit documents. 43.2% of registered intention to seek asylum were made by men, 21.3% by women and 35.5% for children. The majority of intent applications were made by citizens of Iraq (49.5%), Afghanistan (17.2%) or Syria (12.3%). During the month of March, officers of the Ministry of Interior granted refugee status to five applicants and subsidiary protection to three, while six applications (14 persons) were rejected.
67 (23 on 01/04; 34 on 02/04 and 10 on 03/04) persons expressed intent to seek asylum on 1-3 April.
UNHCR monitors learned about some 70 irregular arrivals during 1-3 April: 35 from fYR Macedonia and 35 from Bulgaria.
Refugees continued to leave sites in Serbia, especially in its West, resuming their travel to Austria and Germany through Hungary. UNHCR is aware of at least 90 such cases.
SOUTH
Approximately 577 refugees were hosted in the Reception Centre (RC) in Presevo. REMAR, Red Cross, Caritas and Humedica, served hot meals inside the RC, Border Free Association food outside of it. UNHCR/SPDE distributed 1,913 water bottles, 18 UNHCR blankets, 58 pairs of socks, 799 WFP HEBs. Divac Foundation distributed other clothes and food. The UNICEF/DRC/CSW child friendly space hosted 98 children and 66 women. The Health Clinic assisted 109 refugees, the Natan/Humedica clinic served 97 patients.
Several recreational activities were organised by World Vision, Mercy Corps, REMAR and Save the Children including sports tournament, table tennis and screenplay workshops.
EAST
On 1 April, ten Afghans, possibly all unaccompanied or separated children (UASC), were located at the border station at Gradina near the Bulgarian border. UNHCR partners Sigma Plus and Indigo assisted them. Having been taken to court for irregular border crossing, they were sent to the Youth Upbringing Institution in Nis.