UNHCR Serbia Update, 1 - 7 May 2017

HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS

• 7,219 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were counted in Serbia, 84% (6,052) of which sheltered in 18 government facilities (below chart refers).

• The Serbian Commissioner for Refugees and Migration (SCRM) announced plans to – within one month - transfer to governmental centres all refugee and migrants still squatting in Belgrade city centre. On 07 May, a first 99 men, including 10 UASCs, were relocated to Adasevci Transit Centre (TC).

• On 06 May, the SCRM transferred 130 single men accommodated in the rub halls of TC Sid to TC Principovac (30) and TC Adasevci (100), reducing the occupancy of TC Sid to 198 (compared to over 500 in April).

• With the support of authorities and partners, UNHCR Serbia continued real-time tracking and updating of reception conditions and access to services at all 18 government shelters in Serbia. The process proves popular with its link having been accessed over 20,000 times so far.

• UNHCR received 41 reports of collective expulsions from Croatia, 15 from Hungary, and 11 from Romania – with some testifying to disproportionate use of force.

• Among some 40 new arrivals that were met and assisted by UNHCR and partners during the week, three were unaccompanied and separated refugee children (UASCs). Close to 1,000 UASCs need protection in Serbia, with 797 accommodated in government centres (343 in Obrenovac, 150 in Presevo, 18 in Bujanovac, and 286 in all other governmental shelters), as well as close to 200 in Belgrade city centre.

• In April, 552 individuals registered intention to seek asylum in Serbia. 52% of applicants were children, 43% adult men, and 5% adult women. Most intentions were filed by citizens of Afghanistan (63%), Pakistan (20%), Iraq (3%), or Syria (3%). The Asylum Office still did not recognize any refugee or subsidiary status since the beginning of this year (during the first four months of last year it had recognized 16). One negative decision, however, was recorded in April.

• The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) issued “Right to asylum in the Republic of Serbia, periodic report January-March 2017”, on developments in the field of asylum system development during the first three months of 2017. BCHR also supported the first successful nostrification of the diploma of a refugee in Serbia. He had been recognised in 2008.