HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
For the first time in eleven months, the number of new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants counted in Serbia dropped below 5,000: to 4,997 on 30 July (below chart refers). The number of new arrivals encountered by UNHCR and partners during this week, however, rose to 63 (as compared to 28 the preceding and nine the week before), mainly men from Afghanistan or Pakistan, including nine unaccompanied or separated children (UASC).
4,665, i.e. 93% of new refugees, asylum-seekers or migrants were accommodated in 18 governmental centres. The management of the Transit Centres (TC) of Adasevci and Principovac were able to reduce by around 100 the number of residents housed in temporary emergency shelters. As a result, 450 men and boys remain accommodated in rub halls or tents in these two TCs or those of Sombor or Kikinda.
Based on available information, some 80% of residents in governmental centres are from so-called refugee-producing countries: Afghanistan 59%, Iraq 12% and Syria 4 %. 58% were children and women while 42% are adult men.
More reports of violent incidents affecting refugees/migrants were received, including that of a group being freed from incarceration by smugglers near Belgrade, of one man being robbed by an armed smuggler as well as about a conflict near the border with Croatia again involving the use of a handgun, possibly by the same smuggler.
UNHCR and partners received reports of 85 collective expulsions from Croatia, with many alleging to have been denied access to asylum procedures, while 50 were recorded regarding Hungary, with some alleging excessive use of force by authorities.
UNHCR is grateful to the Swiss Government for having accepted for family reunification a Syrian refugee woman and her child, who departed this week from Serbia to join their husband/father in Switzerland. 01-30 July, 291 refugees registered intention to seek asylum in Serbia.