HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
The number of asylum seekers, predominantly women and children, waiting near the “transit zones” at the border with Hungary went from over 500 on 6 June to over 590 on 9 June. Hungarian authorities continued admitting around 30 asylum seekers per day.
Of an estimated 300 irregular arrivals to Serbia per day, UNHCR and partners encountered and assisted 203.
With the onset of Ramadan, UNHCR, partners and agencies working in Serbia have adapted their activities accordingly.
During the reporting period, 80 persons expressed intent to seek asylum, bringing the total in June to 233, and the year 2016 to 3,630 (statistics courtesy of the Ministry of Interior).
SOUTH
The Reception Centre (RC) in Presevo accommodated between 54 and 104 refugees. In addition, during the reporting period, 99 new arrivals, were accommodated there before departing to assigned asylum centres.
All necessary assistance was provided by the Serbian Red Cross, UNICEF, Indigo, BCM, ADRA,
ATINA, Grupa 484, Humedica, DRC, Care, REMAR and Philanthropy. Additionally, Iftar was served by Philanthropy, Border Free and Youth For Refugees under MSF dining hall. Save the Children and SOS Children Villages organized different recreational activities for children within the RC.
The UNHCR-supported Public Health and Humedica provided over 158 medical treatments in the reporting period. The UNICEF/DRC/CSW child friendly space/mother and baby corner hosted up to 27 children and 7 women daily.
EAST
On 6 June, 14 Afghan men were brought at the Police station in Zajecar after crossing the border with Bulgaria irregularly. They all received an expulsion order from the authorities. They were counselled and assisted with food and non-food aid by Sigma Plus and Red Cross.
BELGRADE
On a daily basis UNHCR and partners encountered/assisted between 280 and 370 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the city centre. They were mainly new arrivals from Afghanistan, Syria or Pakistan. Fewer numbers were observed at night, due to the fact that over 280 were accommodated at Krnjaca Asylum Centre (AC).
The Asylum Info Centre facilitated various referrals, including access to asylum procedures, accommodation to Krnjaca AC and medical services. UNHCR/DRC doctors treated 95 patients, while MSF, Refugee Aid Miksaliste and Divac Foundation assisted with food and other aid.
On 8 June, UNHCR together with representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, the Ambassador of Slovenia, BCHR and refugees participated at the Mikser Festival at the Panel on Legal and Economic Framework for Refugee Integration.
WEST
15 refugees remain accommodated at the Refugee Aid Point (RAP) in Sid. A family of six returned to Iraq under IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programme.
NORTH
Between 500 and 590 asylum seekers, mainly women and children, camped outside the “transit zones” at Kelebija and Horgos I border crossings for days in the open. Sanitary conditions remain of serious concern in both sites.
Regular garbage collection and cleaning of toilets remain a challenge.
During the reporting period, a total of 91 asylum seekers were admitted into Hungarian “transit zones”, i.e. around 30 per day.
UNHCR, HCIT, UNICEF, IOM, MSF and the Red Cross provided humanitarian assistance including water, food, non-food and medical assistance at the two border crossings with Hungary. The distribution also included provision of fresh fruit, donated by World Vision.
On average over 70 refugee/migrants were encountered on a daily basis in and around Subotica on their way to the border crossings or in their attempt to irregularly cross the border. HCIT as well as BCM, Divac Foundation and other agencies continued to assist them with water, food, clothes, hygienic packages and blankets. 80 refugees/migrants, including families with small children, were accommodated at the end of the reporting period in the Refugee Aid Point (RAP) of Subotica.