STATISTICS AND HIGHLIGHTS
UNHCR and partners learned of 22 irregular arrivals from fYR Macedonia.
18 persons expressed intent to seek asylum, bringing the total in April 2016 to 216 and for the whole of 2016 to 2,157 (statistics courtesy of the Ministry of Interior).
61 asylum seekers departed by accessing procedures in Hungarian “transit zones”.
With another 40 refugees leaving transit facilities in/near Sid, their occupancy dropped by 27% within one day.
SOUTH
The Reception Centre (RC) in Presevo continued to host 459 refugees. Two irregular arrivals and intentions to seek asylum were recorded. UNHCR /SPDE distributed 851 water bottles and 166 WFP HEBs.
UNHCR and partners together with the support of ADRA and BCM translators started a participatory assessment exercise with refugees as part of the Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) strategy. So far six Focus Group Discussions were part of the exercise. UNHCR also continued Best Interest Assessments with unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) that had been identified in the protection assessment.
Some 20 refugees held a peaceful protest inside the RC against the “world’s inertia” regarding their fate, requesting the EU countries to re-open their borders.
The UNHCR-supported Public Health and the Natan/Humedica NGO clinic treated 90 patients.
In addition to regular sport activities, which included basketball and football, other recreational activities were organised for children: the Centre for Integration of Youth organised games and an English language course, SOS Children’s Villages proposed drawing. The UNICEF/DRC/CSW organised a jewellery session while their child friendly space/ mother and baby corner hosted 51 children and 37 women.
BELGRADE
Some 150 refugees and migrants were observed by UNHCR partners in Belgrade. They were mainly from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Morocco. The Asylum Info Centre remained open 24/7 and assisted 100 refugees/migrants, including 20 new arrivals from fYR Macedonia while MSF provided medical assistance. More than 110 refugees/migrants spent the nights in parks near the bus and train stations.
NORTH
Around 140 asylum seekers, including women and children, waited in improvised tents outside the two “transit zones” near Kelebije and Horgos I. Many came from transit facilities in the West. Others only recently arrived in Serbia irregularly from fYR Macedonia or Bulgaria and had reached the border through Belgrade. 31/30 asylum seekers were admitted at each border crossing. UNHCR/HCIT distributed food, 174 water bottles, 29 WFP HEBs, twelve hygiene packs, UNHCR blankets, jackets and UNICEF toys in both locations. MSF provided medical assistance to 40 asylum seekers and also distributed humanitarian aid.
WEST
With some 40 refugees departing towards the Hungarian border, occupancy of transit facilities in the West dropped to 112 total: 39 refugees in Sid, 55 in Adasevci and only 18 in Principovac Refugee Aid Points (RAP). CRS/Divac Foundation continued to provide hot lunches in all three locations. The BCM/Sid Health Centre at Adasevci assisted six patients while WAHA treated another ten refugees in Sid and Principovac.