HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
The estimated total number of new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Serbia rose to around 4,400. Close to 80% of them were accommodated in governmental facilities, including 1,074 in the five Asylum Centres and 2,262 in Refugee Aid Points/Reception Centre.
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 less than half are still awaiting admission to Hungary in the open on Serbian soil close to the “transit zones” at Horgos I and Kelebija while more than half are accommodated in the Refugee Aid Point (RAP) of the SCRM in Subotica.
While 116 asylum seekers were admitted into Hungarian “transit zones”, UNHCR and partners collected reports of some 160 push-backs of asylum-seekers who had attempted to enter Hungary irregularly.
240 persons expressed their intent to seek asylum in Serbia bringing the total for August to 1,205 and for the year 2016 to 7,341 (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) to 515 persons from some 400 earlier in the week. Most residents are from Afghanistan, followed by Syria, Iraq and Pakistan.
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.
On 18 August, some 50 RC residents staged a protest concerned about signing up for the waiting list for Hungary, ending it peacefully a few hours later.
BELGRADE
NGOs assisted around 400 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the city centre daily, while the authorities continued offering accommodation in Krnjaca AC, which sheltered and accommodated close to 600.
Asylum Info/Crisis Response and Policy 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 the Centre for Social Work. UNHCR/DRC and MDM doctors treated over 90 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, non-food and other aid.
NORTH
The number of asylum seekers in the North dropped to 915, including around 430 (mainly women and children from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria) camping in the open on Serbian soil close to the “transit zones” at Horgos I and Kelebija. The SCRM sheltered an additional up 470 to asylum-seekers in the Refugee Aid Point (RAP) of Subotica.
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 21 August, there were 420 in Sid RAP, 600 in Adasevci RAP and 270 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 Corp s, Ministry of Labour and WAHA. On 18 August, the Afghan population in the RAPs celebrated the Independence Day of Afghanistan.