"47 million to be available if Serbia closes borders"

"47 million to be available if Serbia closes borders"

Commenting on announcements that Serbia could follow the example of Austria and close its borders around March 1, Schodder said that the UNHCR, together with the government, international organizations and society, has a response.

"We have a plan envisioning USD 47 million of assistance, to which the UNHCR would contribute USD 12 million," said Schodder, who hopes that this will not be needed and that there will be no refugees stranded in Serbia.

Commenting on the announcements that Serbia can take in a maximum of 6,000 refugees, he said that this will most likely not be necessary.

"We don't have so many refugees here. Yesterday (Thursday) at most 1,000 of them arrived. The 6,000 capacity was created to save lives during the winter, but there is no agreement that Serbia will accept this number of people," said Schodder.

As for migrants who have been sent back from Croatia, he said it was first necessary to look at the reasons they were returned - whether it is a legal process, whether Serbia was forced to accept them and whether they had the possibility to seek asylum.

"If they need international protection, they can also ask to return home," he said, adding that some of them want to return, "and some perhaps to apply for asylum in Serbia."

Schodder stressed that UNHCR actively supports the Serbian government to continue to behave responsibly towards both those who pass through and those who are "stuck" here.

He added that UNHCR in Serbia cooperates with its offices in other countries on the refugee route, as well as with other organizations because, he stressed, "this is a problem that will be solved only in the context of real European solidarity."

Schodder expressed optimism because the numbers have fallen, which according to him provides the opportunity to conduct "the right policy, without any panicking" and which, he believes, will be a better solution than the one where migrants are pushed into the hands of smugglers.

"This can be avoided by regular means. There is the right way for refugees to come to Europe, instead of walking across borders and crossing the territory of countries that are not part of the EU," he concluded.