HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
Approximately 600 asylum seekers, predominantly women and children, were waiting their admission into Hungarian “transit zones” in the open at the border crossing in Horgos I and Kelebjia. The Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration (SCRM) accommodated also up to 194 in the Refugee Aid Point (RAP) in Subotica.
Hungarian authorities continued admitting around 30 asylum seekers per day. To our knowledge no progress was made in engaging Hungarian authorities in bi-lateral/tri-lateral development of modus operandi which would mitigate the unnecessary suffering of asylum seekers at the border crossings.
The total estimate of refugees and migrants in the country increased to 1,800. Of an estimated 300 irregular arrivals per day UNHCR and partners encountered/assisted 181.
During the reporting period, 84 persons expressed intent to seek asylum, bringing the total in June to 317, and the year 2016 to 3,714 (statistics courtesy of the Ministry of Interior).
SOUTH
The Reception Centre (RC) in Presevo accommodated between 88 and 123 refugees. Authorities, UNHCR and partners assisted 48 new arrivals in the RC. They were accommodated there before departing to assigned asylum centres.
All necessary assistance was provided by the Serbian Red Cross, UNICEF, Caritas, Indigo, BCM, 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. ADRA, 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 127 medical treatments. The UNICEF/DRC/CSW child friendly space/mother and baby corner hosted up to 27 children and 7 women daily.
EAST
On 12 June 10 Afghans, including six children, and one Iranian arrived at the Gradina border crossing via Bulgaria.
They were provided with clothes and other items as needed by UNHCR partners. The six unaccompanied children most likely will be sent to the Upbringing Institution in Nis, while the adult men reportedly will be sent back to Bulgaria because they had already registered for asylum there. BCHR and Sigma Plus was assisting them, as the whole group expressed an intent to seek asylum in Serbia.
On 8 June, 13 Syrians including six children arrived in Serbia via Bulgaria. The group walked from the village Brebevnica to Dimitrovgrad.
BELGRADE
On a daily basis UNHCR and partners encountered/assisted over 600 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the city centre. They were mainly new arrivals from Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and fewer from Morocco and Algeria. Fewer numbers were observed at night, given the fact that up to 393 were accommodated at Krnjaca Asylum Centre (AC) and assisted by the authorities and Caritas.
The Asylum Info Centre facilitated various referrals, including access to asylum procedures, accommodation to Krnjaca AC and medical services. UNHCR/DRC doctors treated 90 patients, while MSF, Refugee Aid Miksaliste and Divac Foundation assisted with food and other aid.
Between 8 and 10 June, UNHCR participated in different panel discussion with representatives of the Government, civil society and refugees within the Mikser Festival “Sensitive Society” organized by the Mikser House.
NORTH
Approximately 600 asylum seekers, mainly women and children, stayed in improvised tents 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. Toilets and sites were not regularly cleaned.
122 asylum seekers were admitted into Hungarian “transit zones”, i.e. around 30 per day.
UNHCR, HCIT, UNICEF, IOM, MDM and the Red Cross provided humanitarian assistance including water, food, non-food aid 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 60 refugee/migrants were encountered on a daily basis in and around Subotica on their way to the border. HCIT as well as BCM, Divac Foundation and other agencies continued to assist them with food and other non-food aid.
At the end of the reporting period 194 refugees/migrants, including families with children, were accommodated in the Refugee Aid Point (RAP) of Subotica.