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Serbia + 10 more

Serbia Daily Update, 23 February 2016

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STATISTICS AND HIGHLIGHTS

  • 106 refugees arrived: 92 from fYR Macedonia and 14 from Bulgaria.

  • Approximately 500 departed to Croatia by bus.

  • Instead of the usual train transport, 12 buses with some 750 refugees departed from Sid to Batrovci border crossing with Croatia. Some 250 refugees were not allowed to continue by Croatian authorities and brought back to the Sid RAP, where they reported to have been rejected even though they carried all required registration documents and even national passports of Syria or Iraq.

  • Consequently, and with arrival of more refugees from Presevo during the day, the accommodation/waiting capacities in all three sites in the West (Sid, Adasevci and Principovac) were stretched, with over 1,800 refugees, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan staying there.

  • As of 16:30, 132 refugees from Syria and Iraq, including 30 women and 43 children, many of whom had already been pushed-back from Croatia/Slovenia all the way to fYRo Macedonia, were stuck in open country at the green border between fYRo Macedonia and Serbia, because Serbia now requested possession also of Greek registration documents in addition to the common fYRo Macedonia registration document to allow access. UNHCR fYRo Macedonia and MSF provided them with food, water, blankets, cover against the rain and other aid until early in the morning of 24 February fYRo Macedonia decided to readmit them on humanitarian grounds.

SOUTH

92 refugees, from Syria and Iraq possessing new common registration documents, were assisted at the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point (RAP) upon arrival from fYR Macedonia.
Police, Gendarmerie, IOM, Philanthropy, Remar, Medical Center, UNHCR, MSF, DRC, World Vision, were assisting them at the RAP. UNHCR/DRC/SPDE distributed seven winter boots, two winter jackets and 15 water bottles, while UNICEF and Philanthropy/CRS distributed other non-food items (NFIs).

The health clinic inside the RAP was open and assisted nine refugees as well as UNICEF/DRC child friendly hosted 86 children and 30 women.

Over 20 refugees stayed overnight in the RAP. UNHCR-funded buses transported approximately 85 refugees from Miratovac village to the Registration Centre (RC) in Presevo where they were registered. 40 persons with specific needs (PSNs) were prioritized for registration.

UNHCR, SCRM, Police, Medical Centre, ADRA, Red Cross, IOM, UNICEF/DRC, Caritas, DRC, BCM/CRS and Remar assisted refugees/migrants 24/7 at the RC. Natan, Humedica, Care international/Nexus, SOS Children, OXFAM 484, Global Medic were present during the day. Save the Children, APC, Youth for Refugees, Atina, Border Free, Mercy Corps and MSF were active outside the RC.

UNHCR and partners distributed 21 winter boots and 93 water bottles. Public Doctors, MSF, Humedica and Natan treated 41 and Health Center Vranje provided reproductive health services to refugees. The UNICEF/DRC/CSW child friendly space hosted 142 children and 102 women.

Approximately 425 refugees, stayed overnight in the RC, including 15 in UNHCR Refugee Housing Units, 300 stayed in rub halls, 100 in Remar tents. 10 refugees/migrants spent the night in MSF, Border Free and Mercy Corps tents outside the RC.

EAST

Eleven men and three children from Afghanistan, arrived to Dimitrovgrad from Bulgaria.
UNHCR, Sigma Plus, Red Cross, DRC and Divac Foundation distributed food, water, shoes and clothes also for children inside the RAP. ADRA, Save the Children, Info Park and BCHR provided support on interpretation, medical assistance, free WI-FI, food and clothes. Praxis and I’m Human Organization assisted them 24/7 outside the RAP.

WAHA treated nine refugees for minor injuries and respiratory problems.

BELGRADE

Over 185 refugees/migrants were assisted in Belgrade by UNHCR partners. Most were from Morocco, Algeria or Pakistan, and few from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq.

Many sought aid in food, clothes, use of internet and referrals to various services, including hospitals and registration. SCRM, UNHCR/DRC, Red Cross and Refugee Aid Miksalište assisted them. Asylum Info Centre remained open 24/7. Caritas distributed food and clothes at the park near the railway. MSF offered primary health care and distributed NFIs. Approximately 32 refugees/migrants were present at night in the city.

WEST

At Sid train station, UNHCR/HCIT distributed 150 UNHCR blankets, 700 WFP HEB, 1,384 water bottles, 77 winter jackets, 101 boots, and 15 UNHCR bags. IDC/Sid Health Centre and WAHA treated 64. Approximately 750 refugees were hosted at night in the RAP.

Some 800 were accommodated at night in Adasevci RAP. UNHCR, SCRM, Police, APC, Red Cross Serbia, MSF, CRS/Divac Foundation, BCM, Remar, OM and Czech Volunteers assisted refugees 24/7; World Vision, Intersos, Caritas, TDH, EHO, DRC and NSHC during the day.

MSF provided medical assistance to 68 refugees and BCM/Sid Health Centre treated 68. The UNICEF/ WV/CSW child friendly space hosted 113 children and 40 mothers. The Red Cross and Caritas distributed food on buses. Remar offered hot tea and soup. CRS/Divac Foundation distributed adult and children’s winter clothes and footwear.

In Principovac RAP, over 300 refugees, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, were accommodated over-night, including 100 transferred from Kanjiza Asylum Centre and other 200 that were not allowed to board trains in the previous days. UNHCR/HCIT and Czech Volunteers assisted them in various services, including cleaning of spaces and toys distribution. UNHCR, IOM and SCRM counselled them on their right to seek asylum and/or Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programme.