Nearly 600K refugees registered in Serbia so far this year

Nearly 600K refugees registered in Serbia so far this year

3,405 refugees from the Middle East entered the country on Sunday, of which 125 arrived via Bulgaria, while others, mainly Syrian nationals, crossed the border from Macedonia.

Milenkovski told the Beta agency that according to the Interior Ministry since the beginning of the year Serbia registered a total of 549,500 refugees from the Middle East who, after entering the country, received a certificate of intent to seek asylum.

"There are capacities in the reception center in Presevo to accommodate refugees, heating has been installed in large tents in which refugees are waiting for pre-registration, none of them are outdoors," said Milenkovski.

According to her, on Sunday over 3,276 refugees left Serbia and entered Croatia via Sid - while none of those who enter Serbia from Macedonia stay in Presevo. Instead, they immediately after registering continuing their trip towards Sid, a town in northwestern Serbia.

Milenovski said there are currently 35 empty IKEA housing units for refugees in Presevo, as well as accommodation facilities in the former tobacco factory which is equipped with beds on the ground floor, while work is under way to on the second floor and part of the basement to build a laundry and a restaurants.

Thanks to donations from Japanese and Norwegian governments sanitary facilities are also being built at the center - 13 toilets and 13 showers, as well as another smaller sanitary facility that should be completed by the end of week.