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Greece + 12 more

Winter Operations Cell (Updated February 24, 2016 2:35 PM)

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Planning and Preparation: In Thessaloniki, the municipal council announced that a funding proposal will be submitted to UNHCR for a total of 1,500 accommodation places for refugees.

Arrivals and Departures: On 23 February, the border crossing between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia reopened with a limited number of people allowed to cross after two days of closure. The border was again closed as of 05h30 on 24 February.

At the border crossing between Serbia and Croatia, some 250 refugees and migrants were not permitted entry to Croatia following a lengthy screening process, despite possessing the new registration document and valid identification documents.

In Austria, the daily limit of 80 asylum applications to be processed at the border has not yet been reached. The Provincial Governor of Tyrol announced that border controls at the Brenner border with Italy are still under discussion, and may take place as of April 2016.

Condition of People: UNHCR shared concerns over recent restrictive practices adopted in a number of European countries, that are placing additional undue hardship on refugees and asylumseekers across Europe. The measures have created difficulties at several border points, and have put particular pressure on Greece as it struggles to deal with larger numbers of people in need of accommodation and services.

At the border crossing between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the facilities in Eidomeni remained overcrowded with some 3,000 persons present. Those present were mainly Syrians and Iraqis, but also some Afghans, Sudanese, Iranians and Moroccans.

The first 11 refugees to be relocated to Romania will reach the eastern town of Galati on 3 March, Euractiv Romania reported. The nationality of the relocation candidates is currently not available.