Serbia: Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support
Serbia Progress Report – March 28 – April 3, 2016
April 14, 2016
Summary of Activities
- In March, 699 refugees expressed intent to seek asylum in Serbia.
- Belgrade is increasingly receiving more refugees and playing host to people smugglers as new pathways into Hungary are found.
- It was predicted that a new route would open up from Turkey to Italy however at a cost of 4000 euros per person it is unlikely that the path will shift from the Western Balkans route.
- The statistics being reported by UNHCR are completely different to our experience in the field. Many refugees are entering Serbia in very poor medical condition after walking through Albania and Montenegro to Serbia.
- Last week 12 women and 40 children from Adaševci and Šid were moved to Tutin Asylum Center. The hygiene in the camp is extremely poor (rats, mice) and there is a complete lack of NGOs. They returned to Adaševci and Šid after a few days.

Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Young Children
Ages Infant-6
- 27 children assisted
- Provided medical examinations
- Treated infections, diahreea and physcological needs
- Assisted in finding food, clothes, shoes and diapers

Young Children
Ages 6-16
- 63 young adults assisted
- provided medical examinations
- Treatment for leg pain, dressing of wounds, mainly of the feet
- Assisted in finding food, clothes, vitamins and shelter
- Provision of protection information, pathways for seeking asylum in Serbia_

Youth
Ages 17-30
- 191 youth assisted
- Treatment for open sores and wounds, injuries, respiratory problems, cold and flu, and bandaging feet
- Treatment for inflamed joints, leg pain and dehydration due to the long walk
- Providing referrals to obtain food, clothes, medication, and shelter

Adults
Ages 31-60
- 37 adults treated
- Treatment mainly for headaches
- Provided transportation for asylum seekers
- Provided information for protection and provided jackets

Older Adults
Ages 61+
- 1 older adult treated
- Performed a medical examination
- Provision of protection information

Background
& Objectives
Background
RMF has been responding to the refugee crisis in Serbia since January 2016, by providing comprehensive protection and medical services, including emergency triage, to persons of concern. Our teams work in and around the Belgrade city center and at Obrenovac Transit and Reception Centre, the second largest refugee camp in Serbia. We operate 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM five days a week at our mobile medical clinic located in Obrenovac, with a second medical team providing referrals for secondary and tertiary care institutions. From 2017 to 2018, we also provided services near the border with Croatia, operating the medical clinic at Adaševci Transit Centre from 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM, seven days a week.
Additional programs include a mobile dental clinic at Obrenovac Transit and Reception Centre—the first of its kind in Serbia—providing dental care for migrants, who previously only had access to emergency interventions. RMF Balkans also distributes hygiene kits at six camps throughout Serbia to help improve personal hygiene and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. To improve the residents’ quality of life, RMF renovated Obrenovac Transit and Reception Centre in 2018 and continues to maintain and use the renovated facilities to conduct cultural and empowerment activities.
Objectives
- Provide comprehensive protection and assistance response
- Provide material assistance and information
- Provide psychosocial support
- Provide translation and cultural mediation services
- Support existing medical institutions with capacity and mobility
- Establish an information dissemination hotline

More
Photos
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Numbers
Served
144 hours of outreach medical aid facilitated and 320 refugees were provided with medical assistance from March 29th to April 3rd.


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Country Page: Serbia
Initiative Page: Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support