HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
Close to 7,800 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were counted in Serbia. 87% (6,718) of them were sheltered in 17 heated government facilities (below chart refers). The rest stayed rough in Belgrade city centre or the North. Based on available data, 43% were children, 16% women children and 41% men; some 80 % originate from Afghanistan (54%), Iraq (18%) and Syria (8%), with 12% Pakistan and 8% from other countries.
On 10 March, the authorities gathered 112 unregistered migrants/refugees (83 men, 1 couple and 27 unaccompanied and separated boys) who were squatting in a few locations in/near Subotica and transported them to the Presevo Reception Centre (RC). Most are from Pakistan, a few from Syria and Afghanistan, and have already spent several months in Serbia unregistered. UNHCR and partners supported their admission to the RC, including health screening/treatment and provision of NFIs.
Last week, the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (The Lanzarote Committee), published a special report on protecting children affected by the refugee crisis from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. The report, based on responses provided by 41 States to the Committee, identified many challenges including, inter alia, inadequate reception facilities, lengthy asylum procedures and problems with age verification and identification of victims. You may find the full report here.
Observing continuing arrival of Unaccompanied and Separated refugee Children (UASC) from Bulgaria, as well as allegations of abuse, UNHCR reiterated its offer to support authorities in improving their protection both inside and outside of governmental centres. This would include the expansion of UNHCR support to Centres for Social Work in identifying, profiling, conducting Best Interest Assessments (BIAs), foster and other arrangements in line with adopted SOPs, from Presevo and Bujanovac Reception Centres (where over 200 BIAs have already been conducted with UNHCR support) to all locations and centres. Currently up to 900 UASC are in Serbia, with 702 accommodated in government centres, including 127 in Presevo, 39 in Bujanovac, 305 in Obrenovac and 231 in all 14 other governmental centres.
Between 01 and 12 March, the Border Guard’s Asylum Office registered 255 intents to seek asylum in Serbia.