HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
Around 6,400 new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were encountered by UNHCR and partners. 5,080 (or 79%) of them were accommodated in 12 governmental facilities, including 1,911 in five Asylum Centres and 3,169 in “Transit” or Reception Centres. The others were counted at the border with Hungary or sleeping rough in Belgrade City centre.
Falling temperatures - for the first time this year close to/below zero at night in some locations - led to an increase in medical needs amongst refugees/migrants staying outside or in facilities without adequate heating.
Following the voluntary relocation of 110 refugees/migrants to Presevo RC in the early morning of 10 November, UNHCR and partners reiterated their offer to support authorities in a participatory effort to encourage refugees/migrants to leave unhygienic and -safe shelters in Belgrade City Centre for better conditions and services in governmental facilities. The offer covers help in information, profiling, registration, the identification of specific needs, humanitarian aid, medical screening and aid, transport, reception, coordination and monitoring.
On 11 November, some 130 refugees and migrants, mainly men from Afghanistan and Pakistan, set out on a protest march from Belgrade to the Croatian border. While a few decided to return to Belgrade due to cold and exhaustion, the other continued and reached Sid by train on 13 November. In the morning on 14 November, some 30-40 remained near the border crossing Sid/Tovarnik, refusing to relocate to government facilities but stating that they will wait until they are allowed to proceed to Western Europe.
UNHCR has requested clarification from the Ministry of Interior about reports that a group of 41 asylumseekers, including families with children from refugee-producing countries, who had registered for asylum in Nis on 05 November and received referral letters to Tutin Temporary Asylum Centre were expelled to fYRo Macedonia, outside of any legal/readmission frameworks.
The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), supported by UNHCR Serbia, organized an integration event "Serbia: From the Country of Transit to the Country of Destination" which gathered over 40 participants from authorities, civil society, embassies, international organizations, the private sector, as well as refugees.
Discussions focused on examples of good practices from other countries, regional aspects of integration, the current situation in Serbia and a way forward, while giving participants the opportunity to hear first-hand from refugees about their integration experiences.Since 08 November, police has been registering residents in the Presevo Reception Centre (RC) and issuing certificates of intent to apply for asylum. Authorities also advised unregistered refugees and migrants in Krnjaca Asylum Centre to travel to the Belgrade police station to register as otherwise they would not be allowed to reside in the centre much longer. While some managed to register in on 9-10 November, the Belgrade police reportedly did not register any on 11-13 November.
During the reporting period, 95 refugees/migrants registered intent to seek asylum, increasing the total for the month of November to 599, and for the year to 10,937.