According to the UNHCR estimates, the number of refugees and migrants in Serbia remained unchanged during March and amounted to 4,202 persons of concern, of which around 3,625 were located in state asylum centres and reception centres by the end of the month. Most of the refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were accommodated in the reception centres in Obrenovac (752), Adasevci (478) and Principovac (336) and also in the asylum centre in Krnjaca (601). Most people are originally from Afghanistan and Iran. Among them most are men (65%), then children (25%) and women (10%).

During March, most intentions for seeking asylum, out of 693 in total, were expressed in police stations (594). There were 97 intentions registered at border crossings and one at Asylum Office.

During March, among individuals who expressed the intent to seek asylum in Serbia the majority were from Afghanistan (242), Pakistan (191), Syria (112), Palestine (25) and Iran (23). Individuals from Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Egypt, Eritrea, Greece, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Romania and Tunisia also expressed the intent to seek asylum. Out of the total number of asylum seekers, 664 were males and 29 females. The intention to seek asylum was expressed by 162 children, out of which 43 were unaccompanied or separated.

In accordance with the law, asylum applications were submitted by 25 persons (7 in writing), while the Asylum Office conducted 16 interviews in the asylum procedure.

In regard to first instance decisions in the asylum procedure, the Asylum Office granted refugee status to four persons, one from Iran and three from Cuba. Subsidiary protection was granted by the Asylum Office to seven persons, four citizens of Iraq and three citizens of Syria. The Asylum Office made four decisions rejecting asylum applications for three citizens of Iran and one citizen of Pakistan. In March, three asylum requests for three persons from Pakistan were dismissed.

Photo: Joanna Malinowska – freestocks.org (CC0 1.0)