According to the UNHCR estimates, the number of refugees and migrants in Serbia has increased during August and amounted to about 3,900 persons of concern, of which around 3,300 were located in state asylum centers and reception centers by the end of the month. Most of the refugees and migrants were accommodated in the reception center in Obrenovac and asylum center in Krnjaca. The process of rationalization of accommodation capacities has begun, within which reception centers located in Dimitrovgrad, Divljani and Presevo were put in standby mode. At informal gathering sites, there were about 500 people, mostly in Belgrade and in the border areas.

During August, most intentions for seeking asylum, out of 856 in total, were expressed in police stations (780). There were also 47 intentions expressed at the Belgrade Airport.

During August, among individuals who expressed the intent to seek asylum in Serbia the majority were from Afghanistan (308), Pakistan (165), Iran (137), Bangladesh (58), Iraq (54), India (45) and Syria (37). Individuals from Algeria, Egypt, China, Eritrea, Gabon, Palestine, Ghana, Greece, Libya, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Qatar, Russia, Somalia, Turkey and Yemen also expressed the intent to seek asylum. Out of the total number of asylum seekers, 789 were males and 67 females. The intention to seek asylum was expressed by 276 children, out of which 198 were unaccompanied or separated.

In accordance with the law, 14 asylum seekers were registered in August. Asylum applications were submitted by 32 persons, while the Asylum Office conducted 18 interviews in the asylum procedure.

In regard to first instance decisions in the asylum procedure, the Asylum Office rejected two applications for two persons from Guinea and Iraq.

Photo: 7263255 (CC BY-SA 2.0)