UNHCR sincerely congratulates the Serbian authorities, as well as all refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants for having worked together to keep all five asylum centres and 14 transit centres in Serbia free of COVID-19 infection over the course of the last two months.
Greeting the restoration of their freedom of movement on 14 May, the UN Refugee Agency immediately reminded all refugees, asylum-seekers, families and unaccompanied and separated children that the threat of COVID-19 remains, and urged them to continue implementing all the preventive measures conveyed to them by the authorities, United Nations Agencies and their civil society partners in Serbia. UNHCR called on all to continue to strictly limit their movements outside of the governmental collective centres where they are accommodated in order to minimize the risk of being infected with the coronavirus.
UNHCR shares concerns about the possible humanitarian and health threats posed for crowds of irregular migrants, including at Serbia’s borders. Irregular migrants are not entitled to the same rights as refugees, asylum-seekers or children, and may be subject to restrictions on their freedom of movement under the laws of the Republic of Serbia.
Since it opened offices in Belgrade in 1976, UNHCR has supported Serbia with over half a billion Euros worth of humanitarian aid, including over 600,000 Euros of COVID-19 related assistance in hygiene and health items, legal and psychosocial counselling and interpretation services, as well as financial and humanitarian aid to refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons who lost their employment and income during the crisis.
While some states continued asylum procedures during the crisis, others who had suspended them are now re-starting refugee status determination. UNHCR continues to offer assistance to Serbian authorities so as to enable them to swiftly resume the registration of irregular migrants as well as regular procedures for asylum seekers.
“Introducing migration management which respects the rights of asylum seekers and refugees in line with applicable universal and European standards, will remain key to reducing irregular movements and defeating the smugglers who keep the so-called Western Balkan route busy by exploiting the victims of conflict and persecution in the Middle East,” said Hans Friedrich Schodder, UNHCR Representative in Serbia “the UN Refugee Agency stands ready to support Serbia in including this important component for a successful COVID-19 recovery strategy.”
For more information:
Mirjana MILENKOVSKI, [email protected], +381 63 275 154
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