HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
The number of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants continued to stabilise with 6,842 counted in Serbia on 21 May. 95% of them were accommodated in 18 governmental shelters (below chart refers).
Reports of 137 collective expulsions from Croatia were received - more than double the preceding week, with many alleging to have been denied access to asylum procedures and to disproportionate use of force by Croatian authorities.
UNHCR and partners met and assisted only 53 new arrivals of which 75% arrived from Bulgaria and 25% from FYR Macedonia.
On 16 May, the UN Resident Coordinator, UNHCR, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs gathered over 80 reps of the diplomatic and donor community, authorities and civil society for a 16th Partners Briefing on the Refugee and Migration Response. UNHCR analysed recent developments and UN support to Serbia, IOM updated on RMRP, while the Assistant Minister of Health and WHO briefed on health issues.
On 18 May, multifunctional teams of authorities, partners, donors and UNHCR representatives conducted participatory discussions with separate groups of refugee men, women and adolescent boys and girls in Adasevci TC, Krnjaca AC, Divljana RC and Presevo and Bujanovac RCs, on the theme of education and other protection matters. Refugee turnout and participation was good, very interested in participating in the search for solutions to their plight.
On 17 May, the European Commission in its Press Release related to infringement procedure against Hungary concerning its asylum law, reiterated concerns over the issues that remain to be addressed “in addition to new incompatibilities of the Hungarian asylum law, as recently modified by the amendments of 2017. The incompatibilities focus mainly on three areas: asylum procedures, rules on return and reception conditions.”
01-21 May, 368 individuals registered intention to seek asylum in Serbia.