Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Serbia + 6 more

UNHCR Serbia Update, 19 - 22 January 2017

Attachments

HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS

  • Of the total of 7,300 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants counted in Serbia, over 6,200 or 85 % remained sheltered in 17 government facilities. The rest mainly stayed rough in Belgrade city centre.

  • Since the first group of refugees and migrants was relocated from the Belgrade city centre to the new facility in Obrenovac last week, authorities, UNHCR and partners continue working non-stop to enact asap further expansion of shelter capacities there and to ensure that all necessary protection and other services, particularly to support the unaccompanied and separated children (UASCs), will be provided to all current and future residents of the new Obrenovac facility.

  • Continuing support to authorities’ efforts in voluntary relocation from the Belgrade city centre, UNHCR and partners transported 81 more refugees and migrants, including some 40 boys, to several government centres with available capacity. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to identify remaining needs in the city centre. In this regard, UNHCR and partners conducted profiling of some 240 males among those staying rough at barracks behind the train station. Majority of respondents were from Afghanistan (75%) and Pakistan (23%).
    More than half stated they were alone (i.e. with no accompanying family), and almost 30% claimed were underage and travelling alone. Some 18% stated they would like to stay in Serbia and 65% would like to go to another European country. Most, around 65%, indicated they were willing to move to government centres.

  • UNHCR and partners in Serbia continued receiving reports of collective expulsions, including from over 130 refugees/migrants claiming to have been denied access to asylum procedures in Hungary but collectively expelled back into Serbia after having entered Hungary irregularly.

  • On 21 January, during his visit to Serbia, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management,
    Christos Stylianides, visited Krnjaca Asylum Centre (AC), hosted by Minister Vulin and accompanied by UNHCR Representative.

  • Since the beginning of this year, the police registered 432 new intentions to seek asylum in Serbia.