HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
The situation in the North remained challenging with over 1,200 asylum-seekers gathering to re-enter the EU. Humanitarian agencies and authorities stepped up their assistance to address increased humanitarian, protection and security concerns. UNHCR and partners encountered, assisted and interviewed another 120 asylum seekers – including families with children and unaccompanied and separated children - that reported having been pushed-back from Hungarian into Serbian territory without being allowed to file an application for asylum in Hungary. Some alleged disproportionate use of force by Hungarian authorities during push-backs, while others claimed to have been apprehended far deeper in Hungarian territory than the eight kilometre stipulated for in recent amendments of Hungarian legislation.
On 7 July, in a tragic accident, a 10 year old Afghan boy, whose family was awaiting admission outside the Hungarian “transit zone” of Horgos I, drowned when bathing in a nearby pond. His family is being supported, with the burial, accommodation in the RAP of Subotica and other needs.
On 8 July, UN Agencies in Serbia issued a joint Press Release, expressing their concern over the deteriorated situation at the Serbia-Hungary border (see attached).
Also on 8 July, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, Mr. Vulin, Minister of Interior, Mr. Stefanovic and Minister of Health, Mr. Loncar visited the Reception Centre in Presevo to mark the first anniversary of its establishment. They noted that, over 600,000 migrants transited Serbia during 2015, and over 102,000 since the beginning of 2016, indicating that the Balkan route still exists.
The number of refugees/migrants in Belgrade throughout the reporting period remained high with about 500 assisted in the city centre and over 660 sheltered at night in the Asylum Centre (AC) of Krnjaca.
141 persons expressed their intent to seek asylum in Serbia bringing the total for July to 417 and for the year 2016 to 5,038 (statistics courtesy of the Ministry of Interior).
BELGRADE
UNHCR and partners assisted up to 500 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants daily in the city centre. Between 100 and 140 stayed at night in parks near the bus or train station while up to 668 were sheltered and assisted in Krnjaca Asylum Centre.
The Asylum Info Centre facilitated many referrals, including access to asylum procedures in Serbia, accommodation to Krnjaca AC and medical services. UNHCR/DRC doctors treated over 180 patients, while MSF, Divac Foundation and Miksaliste assisted with food and other aid.
NORTH
Over 1,200 asylum seekers were present at the end of the reporting period at the border with Hungary. Of those, over 617 were in Horgos I and 220 in Kelebija, predominantly women and children from Afghanistan and Syria, staying for weeks in very difficult conditions outside on Serbian soil outside the Hungarian “transit zones”.
Hygienic conditions outside both “transit zones” remained difficult. Authorities, asylum-seekers and partners made efforts to keep the sites clean, but the increased population particularly in Horgos, and lack of public cleaning services over the weekend limited cleanliness of sanitary facilities and sites.
UNHCR, HCIT, UNICEF, IOM, MDM, MSF and the Red Cross provided humanitarian aid, including water, food, non-food aid, medical assistance as well as legal and other counselling. HELP contributed fruits and additional food.
Up to a 100 refugees/migrants were encountered on a daily basis in and around Subotica on their way to the transit zones. HCIT as well as BCM, Divac Foundation and other agencies aided the most needy.
122 asylum seekers were admitted into Hungarian “transit zones”, i.e. approximately 30 per day.
Every night, the SCRM sheltered over 330 asylum-seekers in the Refugee Aid Point (RAP) of Subotica.