HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
The number of new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Serbia, encountered by UNHCR and partners, continued to rise, now to around. 4,900. 87% (4,273) of them were accommodated in governmental facilities, including 1,666 in the five Asylum Centres and 2,607 in Refugee Aid Points/Reception Centre. The rest were counted at the border with Hungary and in Belgrade city.
The number of asylum seekers camping in the open on Serbian soil waiting to be admitted into Hungarian “transit zones” remained at a fraction of that in previous months, at just over 200. At the same time, asylum seekers now arrive to the border sites from other facilities a few days before their admission to Hungary date.
Refugees and asylum seekers throughout Serbia celebrated Eid al-Adha. Amongst many celebrations supported by authorities and UNHCR, the Islamic Community of Presevo provided lamb for lunch to all residents of the Presevo Reception Centre while residents of Krnjaca Asylum Centre were allowed to slaughter and roast a sheep.
The UNHCR team in Serbia would like to wholeheartedly congratulate Refugee Aid Miksaliste and the Divac Foundation for having been bestowed the European Citizenship Award 2016 for their Campaign of the Year to aid refugees in Serbia at a ceremony in London on 13 September.
54 persons expressed their intent to seek asylum in Serbia over the last three days, bringing the total for September to 486 and the whole year to 8,557.