HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
The number of new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants, encountered by UNHCR and partners, stabilised at around 6,200. Over 4,700 (or 76%) of them were accommodated in 11 governmental facilities, including 1,845 in five Asylum Centres and 2,878 in “Transit” or Reception Centres. The others were counted at the border with Hungary and over 1,000 sleeping rough at night in Belgrade City centre.
With close to 20% of refugees/migants reportedly infected with body lice, the Serbian Institute for Public Health declared an ’epidemic’ in Krnjaca Asylum Centre (Belgrade), Presevo Reception Centre (South), Subotica (North), Sid, Adasevci and Principovac Transit Centres (West). Disinfection measures including the treatment of infected persons, washing of infested clothes at 60 degrees, steam-cleaning of beds/mattresess and spraying of the facilities, have by now more than halved the number of infected refugees/migrants from around 900 eigth days ago to less than 450 currently. Apart from screening of new arrivals, no special restrictions of movement needed to be introduced by the centres.
Over 1,000 refugees/migrants (including several hundred suspected unaccompanied/separated children) spent every night in unsanitary and unheated derelict buildings of Belgrade city centre. UNHCR and other agencies confirmed their commitment to assist authorities in encouraging them to move to governmental facilities instead, offering support in information, health screening, registration, transport, and services for refugees/migrants with specific needs.
As of 02 November Hungarian authorities reduced their daily admissions to territory and asylum procedures at the Hungarian “transit zones” near Kelebija and Horgos border crossings from 30 to 20 asylum-seekers (10 per zone).
Monthly MoI Asylum Statistics indicate that 1,247 intentions to seek asylum in Serbia were registered in October. 37% were made by men, 17% by women and 46% for children. Most applications were filed by citizens of Afghanistan (47%), Iraq (22%), Syria (19%), Pakistan (5%) and other nationalities (7%). During October, five asylum-seekers were granted refugee status, while one application was rejected. Jan-Oct 2016, the Asylum Office of the Border Guards issued 74 first instance decisions, granting 17 persons subsidiary protection, 17 refugee status and rejecting the refugee claims of 40 asylum-seekers - compared to 33 first instance decisions in the same period of 2015.