HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
The estimated total number of new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Serbia rose above 4,100. Over 80% of them were accommodated in governmental facilities, including 1,078 accommodated in five Asylum Centres across Serbia and 2,223 in Refugee Aid Points/Reception Centres.
For the first time since early July, when amendments to Hungarian legislation to legitimize push-backs took effect, the number of refugees/migrants in the North of Serbia shrank below 1,000, of which only half are still awaiting admission to Hungary in the open on Serbian soil close to the “transit zones” at Horgos I and Kelebija.
While 90 asylum seekers were admitted into Hungarian “transit zones”, UNHCR and partners collected reports of close to 50 push-backs of asylum-seekers who had attempted to enter Hungary irregularly.
In Belgrade, close to 300 refugees and migrants were observed in the city centre. The authorities continued referring and transporting sans papier from the city centre to the Krnjaca Asylum Centre (AC), which thus accommodated close to 600 people.
165 persons expressed their intent to seek asylum in Serbia bringing the total for August to 965 and for the year 2016 to 7,101 (statistics courtesy of the Ministry of Interior).
SOUTH
Continued referrals of new arrivals from fYRo Macedonia, Bulgaria and other reception facilities, increased the occupancy of the Presevo reception Centre (RC) from 401 to 483 persons. Most of the refugees and migrants are Afghans, followed by Syrians, Iraqis and Pakistani.
The SCRM, UNHCR, UNICEF, Red Cross, Indigo, CRS-BCM, ADRA, Atina, Group 848, Humedica, SOS Children’s Villages, DRC, Save the children, CARE, Caritas, REMAR, Philanthropy, Border Free, Youth For Refugees and KinderBerg assisted them with food and non-food items, medical services, counselling, interpretation, referrals and recreational activities. Though comprehensive service provisions were thus ensured, many residents of the RC are growing increasingly restless as the SCRM refuses to enter them onto “waiting lists” for admission into Hungary.
BELGRADE
NGOs assisted close to 300 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the city centre daily. Their numbers remained limited, as the authorities continued offering accommodation in Krnjaca AC, which sheltered and accommodated close to 600 refugees and migrants.
The Crisis Response and Policy Centre (former Asylum Info Centre) provided assistance, counselling and facilitated many referrals, including to asylum procedures in Serbia, accommodation to Krnjaca AC and medical services. Identified unaccompanied minors were referred to Centre for Social Work. UNHCR/DRC and MDM doctors treated 74 patients during the day. MSF and Real medicine Foundation (RMF) were on duty at night. Red Cross, Info park, Divac Foundation, Refugee aid Miksaliste, Refugee Aid Serbia, Caritas and others assisted with food and other aid.
NORTH
Some 970 asylum seekers were present at the end of the reporting period, including 515 (mainly women and children from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq) camping in the open on Serbian soil close to the “transit zones” at Horgos I and Kelebija. The SCRM sheltered an additional up to 463 asylum-seekers in the Refugee Aid Point (RAP) of Subotica.
Overall conditions continued to improve, thanks to MSF’s placement of four new taps/sinks in Horgos, provision of phone charging facilities by the Red Cross, and more regular removal of garbage and cleaning of chemical toilets, supported by UNHCR, HCIT and Save the Children with the engagement of the refugee community.
The SCRM, UNHCR, HCIT, UNICEF, IOM, MSF, MDM, HELP, group 484, CRS/BCM and the Red Cross provided humanitarian aid, including bottled water, food, fresh fruits, non-food aid, such as mosquito repellent and hygiene packages, medical assistance as well as legal and other counselling.
WEST
The Refugee Aid Points in Sid, Adasevci and Principovac hosted close to 1,300 refugees and migrants referred by SCRM from other locations, mainly Horgos and Subotica. On 17 August, there were 404 in Sid RAP, 600 in Adasevci RAP and 286 in Principovac RAP. Most are from Afghanistan, Iraq or Pakistan.
They were assisted by the SCRM, HCIT, UNICEF, Serbian Police, IOM, CARITAS, Philanthropy, DRC, APC, Red Cross Serbia, IDC, MSF, MDM, BCM, Mercy Corps, Ministry of Labour and WAHA.
UNHCR and partners started to collect testimonies from refugees/migrants, who claim to have been pushed-back from Croatia without having been granted access to asylum procedures there.