Pakistan

• 3,357 new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were counted in Serbia on 08 July (compared to 2,997 recorded two weeks ago). While 2,944 (i.e. 87%) of them were accommodated in 18 governmental centres, 400 were observed outside: some 150 in Belgrade City, another 150 camping close to borders with Croatia or Hungary and up to 100 waiting near the bus station of Loznica town close to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

• UNICEF, in cooperation with Save the Children and World Vision, established Child Friendly Spaces in the Refugee Reception Centre and in Bihać. Over 240 children benefit from services and activities.
  
• ECHO pledged EUR 1.5 million for the most urgent needs of refugees and migrants in BiH. Further funding is under discussion with the EU – DG Near, the council of Europe Development Bank, and the Czech Government.

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 46,449 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea through the first half of 2018. That total compares to 101,213 at this time last year, and over 231,503 at this time in 2016.

A. Situation Analysis

Description of the disaster

• World Refugee Day paid respect to all forcefully displaced persons in Serbia. Refugees shared their stories at a “Live books” event of the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation. Refugee and local school children, UNHCR, SCRM and local authorities planted tress at a primary and a secondary school in Presevo, while UNHCR partner Indigo planted roses in the Reception Centre. UNHCR partner Psycho-Social Innovation Network drew attention to the local integration potential of refugees at a Humanitarian Artwork Auction.

• UNHCR and partners noted an increase in the number newly arriving refugees, asylumseekers and migrants to Serbia. During the last two weeks we encountered and assisted 697, three times the number (230) during the preceding two weeks. 73% arrived irregularly from fYR Macedonia (up from 55% two weeks ago), 11% from Bulgaria (up from 4%), and only 6% by air (down from 31%). 69% were adult men, 9% adult women and 22% children. Most originated from Pakistan (39%), Iraq (22%), or Afghanistan (20%), few from Iran (9%) or Syria (3%).

On 15 May, the BiH Council of Ministers discussed and adopted the Emergency Measures Action Plan to address needs vis-à-vis the current refugee and migrant situation at their 142nd session.

The BiH Authorities opened the Refugee Reception Centre in Salakovac for 269 asylum seekers on 18 May. The UN is a key partner working closely with MHRR and MoS.

Despite the high proportion of arrivals expressing intention to seek asylum, the number of asylum application interviews offered and conducted by the Sector for Asylum fell in May.

KEY INDICATORS

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 33,400 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea as of 6 June 2018. So far this month, 1,190 arrivals to Italy, Greece and Spain have been recorded, the majority of which arrived in Spain (47% of total European arrivals).

The 33,400 arrivals since 1 January this year compares with 73,078 arrivals across the region through the same period last year. The number is also significantly lower compared to 6 June last year, with a 55 per cent decrease.

ABU DHABI, 3rd June, 2018 (WAM) -- The value of relief and humanitarian programmes that were implemented due to the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, through the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, from 1993 to 2003, reached AED1.8 billion, which benefited 21 countries, while its developmental projects, valued at AED595.7 million benefitted Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Global Overview MAY 2018

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 32,080 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea through the first 150 days of 2018, with about 42 per cent arriving in Italy and 34 per cent in Greece, with the remainder (24%) arriving in Spain.

This compares with 70,870 arrivals across the region through the same period last year and about 230,230 at this time in 2016.

In other words: Mediterranean arrivals at this point in 2018 are running at under half last year’s level on this date, and less than 15 per cent of 2016’s volume at this point in the year.

Executive summary

Between March and April 2018, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in cooperation with various international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), conducted a Multi-cluster/sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) to gather information on the current migrant and refugee situation, identify needs and gaps and inform the planning and coordination of the immediate UN response. Below are outlined the key findings of the MIRA assessment and recommendations for further action.

Key findings

UNHCR SERBIA UPDATE

• UNHCR and partners continue to note an increase in new arrivals when assisting 253 (compared to 230 during the preceding two weeks – below chart refers). Arrivals from fYR Macedonia remained at the same level (55%), as did those by air (31%), while fewer arrived from Bulgaria (4%). Men continued to constitute majority with 62%, while 9% were women and 29% children. Nationals of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran constituted relatively equal number of new arrivals.

TRENDS AND KEY FIGURES

In April, nearly 7,300 refugees and migrants entered Europe via Italy, Greece and Spain, bringing the number of refugees and migrants who have arrived by land and sea routes to these three countries to nearly 24,300 in the first four months of 2018. This marks a significant decrease of 49% compared to the first four months of 2017, a period in which just over 48,000 refugees and migrants entered Europe via these three countries.

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 27,482 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea through the first 20 weeks of 2018, with about 38 per cent arriving in both Italy and Greece, with the remainder (23%) arriving in Spain.

This compares with 58,921 arrivals across the region through the same period last year and about 190,977 at this time in 2016.

In other words: Mediterranean arrivals at this point in 2018 are running at under half last year’s level on this date, and less than 15 per cent of 2016’s volume at this point in the year.

UNHCR SERBIA UPDATE

• 3,199 new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were counted in Serbia on 13 May. 2,795 (i.e. 87%) were accommodated in 18 governmental centres. Around 400 were still observed outside of centres: around 200 in Belgrade City and some 200 camping close to borders with Croatia or Hungary.

HIGHLIGHTS

DTM flow monitoring data compiled from national authorities and IOM offices show that the number of arrivals through Mediterranean routes between January and March 2018 is half the number of arrivals in the same period in 2017. In the first quarter of 2018 a total of 1,956 migrants and asylum seekers arrived in Europe using different land and sea routes, in comparison to 34,531 registered in the first quarter of 2017. As previously reported, the decrease is mainly due to the drop in arrivals in Italy.

DEVELOPMENTS

COUNTRIES OF FIRST ARRIVAL

Global Overview APRIL 2018

• 3,498 new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were counted in Serbia on 29 April. 3,194 (i.e. 91%) were accommodated in 18 governmental centres. After 23 April, when authorities transfered 110 men and boys that had been sleeping rough in the North-West to Presevo Reception Centre, around 300 were still observed outside of centres: around 200 in Belgrade City and some 100 camping close to borders with Croatia or Hungary.