HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
• On 26 March, 7,892 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were counted in Serbia. 85% (6,738) were sheltered in 17 government facilities, while the rest stayed rough in Belgrade city centre or close to the borders with Croatia or Hungary.
• Unaccompanied and separated refugee children (UASC) continued arriving daily, mainly from Bulgaria. Some 30 new, mostly Afghan, boys were referred by UNHCR and partners to the Centre for Social Work in Belgrade alone. By now, over 900 UASCs are in Serbia, with 758 accommodated in government centres, including 350 in Obrenovac, 118 in Presevo, 32 in Bujanovac, and 258 in all other governmental shelters, as well as close to 200 in Belgrade city centre.
• On 24 March, UNHCR and partners surveyed refugees/migrants in Belgrade city centre. Amongst 1,395 counted - all male - 368 agreed to be interviewed. Most were from Afghanistan (85%), followed by Pakistan. Some 11% confirmed to be sheltered in Obrenovac centre but come to the city regularly. 125 were UASCs, mostly Afghan. Over 50% of those profiled reached Serbia in the past four months. 64% stated they are waiting for smugglers to try to reach France or Italy.
• Refugees and migrants in all sites are expressing increased exasperation with the enactment of the new Hungarian Law, reportedly taking effect on 28 March, fearing prolonged detention before being rejected and pushed-back to Serbia. While psycho-social and other health partners report increasing mental health issues at all sites, a first peaceful demonstration against the new law took place on 22 March in front of Adasevci Transit Centre. UNHCR continues offering authorities increased support to maintain mental health and security, especially in the Transit Centres in the West of the country that have the lowest CBO presence and appear most vulnerable to tensions.
• Accordingly only five cases of collective expulsions from Hungary were encountered this week, the lowest number reported since last summer. Consistent with increased attempts to irregularly enter Croatia instead, the number of reported collective expulsions from Croatia rose to 60 from last week’s 57.
• In support to the government’s efforts to improve and expand emergency shelter UNHCR donated another 250 bunk beds to the Serbian Commissioner for Refugees and Migration (SCRM) and delivered them to the Transit Centres of Obrenovac, Subotica, Sombor and Sid.
• On 20 March, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights presented its annual report “Right to Asylum in the Republic of Serbia 2016”, which documents and analyses small improvements but also systemic problems in accessing fair and efficient asylum procedures and refugee protection in Serbia. The full report is available here.
• Between 01 and 26 March, the Border Guard’s Asylum Office registered 570 intents to seek asylum in Serbia.