Attachments
Planning and Preparation: UNHCR released reports highlighting results of surveys of Afghan and Syrian arrivals to the Greek islands between 15-31 January 2016.
Arrivals and Departures: The number of refugees and migrants arriving to the Greek islands in January fell to 68,000, down nearly 40% in comparison with December 2015, due largely to poor weather conditions.
Austria has introduced daily limits of people allowed entry/transit and asylum with a maximum of 3,200 people transiting to Germany and a maximum of 80 asylum applications to be accepted in Austria per day. Since the implementation of these caps, however, the respective limits have not yet been reached.
According to media, Hungarian authorities reported a sharp rise in the numbers of refugees and migrants attempting to enter through its southern borders in February, the first significant surge since the borders were sealed last year. Around 1,500 migrants tried to enter the EU member state illegally from Serbia this month, the Hungarian police stated. Some 500 people were apprehended between Friday and Sunday alone.
Condition of People: According to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonian border police, negotiations took place between fYR Macedonian and Serbian authorities regarding Afghan nationals and others stranded at the border crossing. Only Syrian and Iraqi nationals on site would receive new registration documents. At the Vinojug reception centre, registration software remains offline.
Registration figures are being entered manually until the new system is available and functional.
In Serbia, only Syrians and Iraqi nationals were allowed entry from from the former Republic of Macedonia. At Sid, people were not able to enter Croatia from Serbia as train transport was not available. 747 people were accommodated in Sid and Principovac Refugee Aid Points.
Deaths at Sea: None reported.