The number of refugees and migrants in Serbia was the lowest in the previous year, however the decrease that lasted since March has ended. The UNHCR estimates that there were 4,146 of them at the end of the month with some 350 staying outside government accommodation centers. Those who were accommodated in government accommodation centers resided in the five asylum centres (Krnjača, Banja Koviljača, Bogovađa, Sjenica, Tutin) and 13 reception centres (Subotica, Sombor, Kikinda, Adaševci, Principovac, Obrenovac, Pirot, Divljana, Dimitrovgrad, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vranje, Preševo) in Serbia. The majority of refugees and migrants resided in the reception centres in Obrenovac, Preševo and Adaševci as well as in the Krnjača Asylum Centre, while the least resided in the Tutin Asylum Centre and in reception centres in Bosilegrad, Dimitrovgrad and Bujanovac.
Most intentions for seeking asylum were expressed in police stations (573). There were also 23 intentions expressed at the airport, 16 in the border zone and 13 in the reception center in Preševo. During September, there were no recorded expressed intentions to seek asylum at a shelter for foreigners in Padinska Skela.
During September, 589 individuals expressed the intent to seek asylum in Serbia, and the majority of them were from Iraq (273), Afghanistan (84), Pakistan (75), and Syria (61). Individuals from Egypt, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, DR Congo, Palestine, India, Iran, Libya, FYR Macedonia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Somalia, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen also expressed the intent to seek asylum. Out of the total number of asylum seekers, 451 were males and 138 females. Also, the intention to seek asylum was expressed by 200 children, out of which 5 were unaccompanied or separated.
In accordance with article 24 of the Law on Asylum, only one asylum seeker was registered in September, at which time his/her identity was determined, while also getting photographed and having his/her fingerprints taken. Two asylum applications were submitted, while the Asylum Office conducted five interviews in the asylum procedure.
In regard to first instance decisions in the asylum procedure, the Asylum Office reached one positive decision in September, and awarded subsidiary protection to an asylum seeker from Ukraine. On the other hand, four applications were refused and one was rejected. 21 procedure of 23 asylum seekers were suspended.
Photo: David Simmonds (CC BY-SA 2.0)