Western Balkans

ECRE News Brief week 21-25 September 2015

MACEDONIA
- Facts and figures
According to IOM from 19 June to 24 September, the total number of refugees arriving in Macedonia
was 94,842 people, an increase compared to 81,649 refugees reported by IOM the previous week.
Out of these, 15,832 refugees were children, of whom 3,043 unaccompanied. According to latest
statistics, 73,497 refugees were Syrians, 8,647 Afghanis, 5,580 Iraqis, 2,611 Pakistanis and 1,041
Palestinians.
From 19 June to 16 September, 79,778 refugees have registered their intention to claim asylum in
Macedonia. The number of arrivals reached the peak of 8,660 persons on 13 September, as reported
by UNHCR. From 19 June to 19 September, 85,064 refugees expressed the intention to seek asylum
in Macedonia including 67,543 Syrians, 6,587 Afghanis, 4,245 Iraqis and 2,514 Pakistanis (source
MIA). In just two days, between Friday 17 and Saturday 19 September, 1,792 refugees were
registered in Macedonia by the Ministry of interior; most were Syrians (1,355), followed by Afghanis
and Iraqis. Between Sunday and Monday morning, about 4,000 refugees crossed Macedonia by train,
according to national railways and humanitarian organisations working at Gevgelija and Tabanovce.
An average of about 5,000 refugees keeps coming to Macedonia every day, according to ECHO.
This year, according to Legis, a NGO providing assistance to refugees in Macedonia, 30 refugees
died walking along the railways since the beginning of 2015.
- Practices at the borders
Refugees apprehended by the police at the Greek-Macedonian border, including children and women,
told Human Rights Watch (HRW) they have been beaten with batons, kicked and humiliated with
verbal insults. Some of them have been sent back to Greece, without the possibility to get access to
international protection in Macedonia.
Until July 2015, refugees have been regularly put in arbitrary detention at the overcrowded Gazi Baba
centre, for days or months. HRW documents they have been forced to live in inhuman and degrading
conditions, without water, food and sanitation facilities. In addition, many have been victims of
illtreatment and physical abuse committed by Macedonian authorities against detainees, including
sexual violence against women. (See also Aljazeera)
The new law of July 2015 allows refugees to stay in Macedonia legally for 72 hours. As a result, at
present refugees are no more systematically detained at Gazi Baba. However, Human Rights Watch
highlighted that asylum and migration practices (in Macedonia) still fall short of its obligations under
national, EU, and international law.
The Macedonia Young Lawyer Association has submitted an intervention to the National Preventive
Mechanism to release the detained persons from the Transit Center Gazi Baba.
- Registration, asylum procedures

UNHCR is drafting Standard Operating Procedures in order to ensure further consistency in the
registration and referral of refugees asylum claims. Thanks to additional data entry clerks, registration
procedures have been accelerated. Nevertheless, the registration system requires further support due
to the increase of arrivals.
From 16 to 22 September MYLA data entry clerks and lawyers have assisted the police officers in
issuing 11,187 intentions to seek asylum at the Reception Center "Vinojug" in Gevgelija.
- Reception, shelter, assistance
At the reception centre Vinojug in Gevgelija, protection capacities have been strengthened and an
information point has been established. All protection-related activities and assistance have been
stepped up; including information material for refugees.
The Vinojug centre includes a water container, twelve refugee housing units and three shelter areas
where refugees can receive first assistance. There are two child friendly spaces, with psychologists,
social workers and translators. Food and non-food items are regularly distributed, according to a
weekly plan agreed by various NGOs. A team of seven interpreters from Arabic was created and
MYLA continues to provide legal assistance.
Nevertheless, garbage collection remains problematic at Vinojug centre. Challenging conditions at the
asylum centre in Gevgelija, according to Legis, are partly the result of the mayors decision to
establish it outside the town, with no access to water or electricity. Furthermore, heavy rain and low
temperatures put refugees in greater health risks.
In the Reception Centre "Vinojug", refugees are divided in groups before departing towards the
Serbian border. Priority is given to vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant women and
elderlies. As most refugees leave Macedonia in few hours, besides the new temporary asylum
centres, permanent reception centres are currently empty.
At present, the Macedonian Red Cross (RC) has nine mobile teams providing humanitarian
assistance in Tabanovce and Gevgelija. Between 13 and 21 September, doctors, paramedics and
first aid volunteers the RC distributed 20,637 bottles of drinking water, 843 food packages, 205
hygiene kits, 230 baby packages, 468 packs of baby diapers, 660 blankets, 328 packages with
biscuits, 2 wheelchairs. Overall 5,580 refugees have received first aid.
On Thursday 17 September, in Gevgelija and Tabanovce the Macedonian Red Cross provided
medical assistance to 3,230 refugees. It distributed 2,637 bottles of drinking water, 80 food packages,
and 80 for babies. It has also provided 19 hygiene kits, blankets and first aid kits. On 19 September,
the RC provided first aid to 745 refugees and medical assistance to 5,550 people. It also distributed
4,154 bottles of drinking water, 33 hygiene supplies, 370 food packages, biscuits, 24 parcels for
babies and milk, blankets, 9 first aid kits and 1 wheelchair. On 20 September, the RC has assisted
1,160 people and ensured medical help for 6,070 refugees. It also continues to provide basic
humanitarian help. On 21 September, the RC provided humanitarian and medical aid to 1,298
refugees. Supplies included 3,140 bottles of drinking water, 26 hygiene packages, food, packages for
babies and rain coats. On 22 September, in addition to regular humanitarian help and supplies, the
RC provided medical assistance to 3,310 persons in Gevgelija and Tabanovce; 1 pregnant woman
was transported to hospital.
MYLA's lawyers have granted legal assistance to seven refugees, who applied for asylum in the
Reception Centre of Vizbegovo.
Project HOPE will provide additional medical assistance and supplies to hospitals and temporary
centres in Macedonia. The aid will help refugees suffering from diseases caused by the travel
experienced or preexisting health problems.

Legis raised concerns over the fact that reception centres are managed by NGOs, not by the State.
Along the Macedonian leg of the Western Balkan route, hygiene conditions are inadequate due to the
lack of a garbage collection system.
Moreover, according to Legis, kidnappings of refugees crossing Macedonia have occurred in recent
months, though it is believed victims never report them to the police, due to their irregular status. In
particular, Legis heard of refugees who have been kidnapped, beaten and blackmailed by local
people at Vaksintse and Lojane, at the border with Serbia.
- Policy developments
On Friday 18 September, Macedonian authorities agreed to extend the state of emergency regarding
refugee arrivals at the southern borders by 15 June 2016.
On 20 September, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov complained that Macedonia is left alone by
the EU, and that European institutions have provided EUR 90,000 so far, compared to EUR 450
million of funding to Greece. He also highlighted that cooperation with EU agencies and the Greek
authorities is weak. He attributed the current situation to the EU failure to control its borders.
An EU team visited the reception centre in Gevgelija on Monday 21 September, as announced by
Johannes Hahn during his visit on Saturday. The team made an assessment of the needs, such as
humanitarian and human resources, as well as financial assistance.
According to a statement made on Monday by the Macedonian government, if EU members will
decide to send back refugees to Macedonia, under the readmission agreement, authorities will not
return people to Greece, in line with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights adopted in
2008.
For more information
Human Rights Watch, Macedonia: Unchecked Police Abuse of Migrants, 21 September 2015
UNHCR, FYR Macedonia Inter-Agency Operational Update, 02 - 08 September 2015
UNHCR, FYR Macedonia Inter-Agency Operational Update, 09 - 15 September 2015
SERBIA
- Facts and figures
From 19 July to 16 September 125,522 refugees have been registered in Serbia, according to
UNHCR.
On 21 September, the Serbian Red Cross, estimated about 5,000 refugees arrivals in Presevo.
According to Save the Children, 25,000 children arrived in Serbia since the beginning of 2015 and up
to 18 September, including at least 5,753 unaccompanied minors. It is estimated that in August 2015,
the number of unaccompanied children was 66% more than in July the same year. One in four
because were separated from their family, with consequent higher risks of being trafficked, abused,
and exploited.
- Practices at the borders
There are no reports of illtreatment in Serbia. Most refugees say that they either had no contact with
Serbian authorities or that there were no tensions at the border and on the way. However, practically
every refugee BCHR had spoken to, of the 10% of refugees arriving in Serbia from Bulgaria,
witnessed or experienced ill-treatment by the police, including beating to be robbed and detention.
- Registration, asylum procedures

As of the 16 September, registration capacities at Presevo registration centre were stepped up,
thanks to three additional fingerprinting machines financed by UNHCR. At present, authorities are
able to register about 2,000 people every day. However, as reported by UNHCR, shortcomings in the
registration procedure still remain.
Unlike before, most refugees do not get certificates at the border town of Presevo, but are simply
given a questionnaire and told that this is enough to move within the country and receive
accommodation. However, this is not correct, as they still need to obtain a full certificate of the
registration based on the questionnaire. In recent days, some refugees have tried to obtain the
certificate in Belgrade, with the result of being thrown out of the police station.
According to the press, at train stations the questionnaire is not considered a valid document
certifying the registration of the intention to seek asylum. Thus refugees may be sent back to
Preevo because they cannot travel to Belgrade. This is fairly new practice although a similar
approach existed in Belgrade even before the sharp increase of refugee arrivals. In fact, it was less
the case during the peak numbers, where the system seemed to function much better than now .
In Belgrade, refugees are not able to register the intention to claim asylum with the police but only in
one station (Savski venac), at the department for foreigners.
Asylum seekers, from all countries of origin, who would like to stay in Serbia have to wait even
several days to be allowed apply at the station. If previously this was due to the lack of administrative
capacities to process high numbers of asylum requests, today there are no refugees at the station; so
that this reason cannot sufficiently justify procedural delays.
After getting access to the station, asylum seekers face long interviews by the police officers. In
addition, asylum seekers are questioned under the Article 288 of the Criminal Procedure Code, on
collection of information from citizens. Accordingly, interviewees are not provided with a lawyer, but
only a translator. According to the law people must be invited in advance and the information asked
must be about a criminal act that the police reasonably suspects took place.
Asylum seekers are questioned exclusively about their asylum case, which is in the competence of
the Asylum office of the Ministry of Interior, not the police station officers, and not about any possible
criminal acts. The legally required invitation is not respected, as interviews take place at the moment
of expressing the intention to seek asylum. In addition, some asylum seekers are interviewed without
a translator. BCHR was told that one woman experienced humiliating treatment, with inappropriate
questions concerning her sex life, asked by a woman police officer at the station.
Besides, refugees who do not want to introduce an application, mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq,
are very often absolutely denied access to asylum procedure. At the doors of the police station,
officers tell them to leave the building and encourage them to go to Germany.
- Reception, shelter, assistance
Overall, reception capacities at temporary asylum centres are limited, as pointed out by Andrea
Zeravcic, director of Save the Children in North West Balkans: Currently, there are 920 beds in five
asylum centres, plus an additional 26 in one temporary centre near the Macedonian border, and
communal tents in Kanjiza for 800 1000 people, but it is simply not enough to cope with the
unprecedented influx of people, particularly with the freezing cold temperatures and rains that winter
brings here. Indeed, the worsening weather conditions put refugees at greater risk of health
problems. Ahead of the winter, the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migrants said it will
enhance reception capacities at Presevo centre.
UNHCR is establishing a Field Office in Presevo. A larger group of volunteers provide food, water and
information. There are toilets and a wash system at the centre. On Sunday 20 September the Red

Cross distributed 1,600 packages of food and clothes in Presevo and stressed that further supplies
are needed as weather conditions worsen. Tlcoms Sans Frontires established a point of internet
connection in Presevo for free access to 3,000 refugees per day.
After having passed through Presevo, refugees continue on the way to Belgrade. Here, due to the
abovementioned shortcomings in the registration procedures, asylum centres are almost completely
empty. In fact, refugees who would like to remain in Serbia are quickly disillusioned and abscond, and
those transiting on their way to other European countries also have no accommodation possibility.
Many could afford the price for a hostel, but this is not possible without the document certifying their
intention to seek asylum, which also allows staying in hotels/hostels for three days. Consequently,
many have been sleeping in the streets of Belgrade..
Some people are now staying in the parks in Belgrade for days, which was never the case before. In
addition to its regular activities, BCHR informs refugees about the ongoing situation at the border, and
UNHCR information about the risks of crossing into Hungary outside official borders crossings. There
were first isolated cases of people who decided to return to their country of origin, but this is still not a
trend.
As documented in this video in Belgrade, refugees, including children, have been camping outside, in
cold and rainy weather. The Serbian government has set some tents providing medical help. One of
the doctors said that every day they can assist about 100 refugees. Food, clothes and water have
been provided as well. This is the first tent set up by the government and it will remain as long as the
current situation will last, though being a temporary station of first aid.
Refugees Aid Serbia is a group of charities which set up a camp at Miksalite in Belgrade. They
provide food, clothes and first assistance to about 1,000 refugees per day.
On Tuesday 22 September, UNICEF established a new area for child refugees in a Hotel in Belgrade.
BCHR reported lower numbers of refugees gathering in parks in Belgrade since the closure of the
Hungarian border. In fact, most refugees are now directly transported from Presevo to Sid, a town at
the border with Croatia. While there were previously between 500 and 700 people in Belgrade, and
around 1,100-1,200 during peak days, in the last days and up to 23 September only between 150 and
300 refugees have been reported.
In the north of Serbia, basic humanitarian assistance has been strengthened in Subotica, Kanjiza and
Horgosz. However, UNHCR, highlighted that at the centres of Kanjiza and Miratovac medical teams
still lack water supplies.
Further coordination between humanitarian agencies is needed at the
Kanjiza centre.
Amnesty International documented on this video the experience of a Syrian refugee on the SerbianHungarian border on 16 September. Here, refugees, including children, families and elderlies, have
been sleeping in the street, with no food and no water. This picture taken on 16 September, near
Horgosz, shows refugees that continue trying to enter the country after the borders closed.
Despite the intervention of UNHCR and other national/international NGOs, since Hungary closed its
borders with Serbia and started sending refugees back, refugees remain in Serbia for longer periods
of time, in urgent need of further assistance, including food, water and medical care, and sanitary
facilities. UNHCR stressed that at present, the asylum system in Serbia is not able to cope with the
scale of the number of refugee arrivals.
- Policy developments
On Saturday 19 September the Serbian prime minister said the government is doing everything
possible to ensure registration and reception of refugees in the country.
On 21 September, the Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI) called EU Member States to
remove physical and procedural barriers, which prevent refugees from accessing international
protection. Among other recommendations, it advocates for the activation of the EU Directive on

Temporary Protection and the relocation of asylum seekers across the EU. It also asks for the
creation of alternative access to asylum procedures outside the EU.
After Hungary decided it will send back all refugees crossing irregularly its borders, Serbia said they
will all be refused, contrary to what is imposed by the EU readmission agreement with Serbia.
According to BCHR, if Hungary is violating the international law by implementing measures against
refugees, this cannot legitimize any decision to refuse refugees sent back to Serbia.
For further information
UNHCR, Serbia Inter-Agency Operational Update 8-14 September 2015

Croatia
- Facts and figures
The Croatian government has been reporting the number of refugee arrivals during the past week.
According to the Croatian ministry of Interior, about 21,000 refugees arrived in Croatia, mainly through
the Tovarnik crossing point, from 16 to 19 September. At the same time, it was estimated that around
3,000 had left Croatia by buses and trains organised by the authorities.
On Sunday 20 September, the authorities reported that 25,000 refugees had crossed the Croatian
border since 16 September. 3,900 refugees were waiting in Tovarnik in the morning of that day, at the
main entry point; while 700 people were waiting at the border crossing with Slovenia.
Between midnight on Sunday 20 September and noon on Monday, 900 refugees entered Croatia. As
of Tuesday 22 September at 9am, the total of refugee arrivals amounted up to 34,900 people; of
them, about 2,400 refugees entered during the night only.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday 23 September, 8,750 refugees arrived into Croatia.
On Wednesday 23 September, more than 3,500 refugees crossed the Croatian border in the area of
Ilok and Tovarnik. On 24 September, 8,500 refugees arrived in Croatia. At 1.45pm on Friday 25
September, the Ministry of interior reported 60,000 refugees had entered the country since 16
September.
UNICEF estimates that 10,000 woman and children arrived in Croatia from 14 to 21 September alone.
- Registration, asylum procedures
Since 16 September, refugees who entered Croatia from Serbia were first registered at the border,
and then transported to reception centres in Zagreb, provided by the Ministry of the Interior. As the
numbers of refugees started to grow, they were no more registered at entry, but directly transferred to
the Reception Centre for Foreigners in Jeevo, near Zagreb. After registration in Jeevo, all refugees
were issued a return decision, with a period of 30 days for voluntary departure.
All refugees entering into Croatia have been registered and accommodated in the temporary
reception centre Opatovac, near the border crossing in Tovarnik. CLC lawyers are currently providing
free legal information in Opatovac. Approximatively 2,900 refugees are currently staying at the
Opatovac Temporary Admission Center. After registration refugees are transported further to the
Hungarian border.
On 24 September, a Human Rights Watch correspondent took pictures of refugees arriving in
Tovarnik: 1; 2
- Reception, shelter, accommodation
Since 16 September, after receiving the return decision in Jeevo, refugees received accommodation
at the Hotel Porin in Zagreb, which has quickly been turned from the Reception Centre for Asylum

Seekers into a Reception Centre for Foreigners (i.e. detention centre for the purpose of removal).
Later on, all asylum seekers previously residing at the Hotel Porin were transferred to the Reception
Centre for Asylum Seekers in Kutina. Refugees were also accommodated in the pavilions of the
Zagreb Fair and in reception facilities in Sisak. The capacity of these facilities quickly filled up.
Reception at these accommodation centres was supervised by the Croatian Red Cross, where
refugees received primary assistance. All refugees have been released from accommodation centres
in Zagreb and guided towards the border crossings with Slovenia, where they have been waiting to
enter Slovenia.

The temporary reception centre in Opatovac was established on 20 September; refugees can stay
before buses transport them to Hungary. According to the government, refugees do not spend more
than 36 to 48 hours at the reception centre. The Opatovac temporary reception centre have been
hosting between 1,500-3,000 refugees at any time during the day, so that it is easily overcrowded and
completed, before people leave to Zagreb.
On Tuesday 22 September, there were no more places available to accommodate the 8,000 people
who crossed the border in Tovarnik that day. (Videos show thousands refugees arriving in Opatovac
on Tuesday).The Croatian police closed the border and did not allow refugees to camp in tents at the
crossing point. As a consequence, many refugees, including women, children and elderly slept in the
open, according to MSF reports. Refugees have been pushed by the police to prevent them from
entering the asylum centre of Opatovac.
Entering into the Opatovac reception centre, many families have been separated by the police.
UNHCR provides information and helps reunite them, as well support to identify and assist the most
vulnerable refugees. According to the Croatian Red Cross it is difficult to distribute food; the help of
the police is needed.
On Tuesday 22 September, Croatia closed also the Bapska crossing point with Serbia; meanwhile
refugees had to wait for hours before Croatian busses arrive. In Bapska, UNHCR staff has helped to
identify the most vulnerable refugees, and reunite families who were separated to catch buses
towards the Croatian border. Humanitarian organisations face difficulties in providing first assistance
and medical aid, including the Red Cross.
From the Bapska crossing point between Serbia and Croatia, Refugees Aid Serbia, an independent
network of charities and volunteers, reported that on Wednesday 23 September, refugees were
arriving by bus every 10-15 minutes. The border was closed and that 1,500 and 2,000 refugees were
stuck in no mans land, with scarce food, water and lack of sanitation facilities, such as portable
toilets. Red Cross, Medicine Sans Frontier, UNHCR, Open Hand, Refugee Aid Serbia and other
volunteers were also in Bapska, providing humanitarian assistance for refugees.
Pictures taken at Bapska crossing point on Thursday 24 September: 1; 2
UNICEF has created two child friendly spaces in Croatia, to provide baby items, water, breastfeeding
and information to children and women. UNICEF tells of child refugees in urgent need of medical
assistance, because they are sick or dehydrated; as well as psychological support, because of
traumas experienced during the journey.
According to the CLC, almost all refugees said they did not want to stay in Croatia and wanted to
continue further to apply for asylum in other European countries. Only few have expressed the
intention to seek asylum in Croatia.
Between 17 and 18 September, along the road from Croatia to Slovenia, it was reported that it is
difficult for refugees to get access to information on the evolving situation and the right way to take. A
corridor was created between Tovarnik and Zagreb, but transportation is insufficient for the large
number of arrivals, so that many refugees have to sleep in the open at Tovarnik. This video shows
refugees, including families with small children, who after waiting for hours, struggle to board into
trains that will bring them from Tovarnik to either Hungary or Slovenia; but none of them have precise
information about the destination.

AIDA, Country Report: Croatia, March 2015, p.16

A group of Croatian refugees currently living in Subotica offered their houses in Croatia to host
refugees.
This video shows the current road followed by refugees across Croatia (23/09).
- Policy developments
Several meetings between representatives of relevant state bodies, international and nongovernmental organizations were held, in preparation of large arrivals before 16 September, and a
strategy was agreed
On Thursday 17 September, the Croatian government expressed its willingness to provide immediate
assistance, such as food, water and medical aid; but it said it will neither register nor accommodate
refugees for a longer period.
After the decision of Hungary and Croatia to close border crossing points with Serbia, in order to
prevent refugees from entering their countries, on Monday 21 September, the Serbian Prime minister
Aleksandar Vucic said that this damages the Serbian economy. By Tuesday 22 September evening,
Croatia still kept its borders closed, criticising Serbia for sending refugees to Croatia instead of to
Hungary in an organised manner. Serbia denied this claim, raising concerns over the money Serbia
spent in response to the refugee situation. There were tensions between the two governments during
the week. Serbia launched an ultimatum to Croatia, to open the border by Thursday 23 September at
midnight. Otherwise, the Serbian Prime Minister would implement economic and financial measures.
On Friday 25 September morning, both sides of the border were closed and tensions between the
Croatian and Serbian governments were still high, as reported by the news. In the afternoon at 5pm
the same day, the Croatian interior minister said the border was open again.
- Serbian-Hungarian borders
On Friday 18 September, Hungary started building a 41-kilometer fence along the border with Croatia.
UNHCR expressed concerns over the closure of Hungarian and Croatian borders. Instead of solving
the situation, UNHCR believes it will lead to an increase of refugees in Serbia "which is not a country
with a strong system of asylum".
Hungary intends to build another fence along the Hungarian-Romanian border. Romanian Foreign
Minister Bogdan Aurescu criticised the border closure as an "autistic and unacceptable act" in
violation of the European Unions values.
On Sunday 20 September, Hungary, in cooperation with Serbia, reopened the Horgos-Roszke main
border crossing point. Hungary said it will organise buses and other transports to bring refugees to
Austria. On Monday 21 September, the Hungarian Parliament approved a law, with two-thirds
majority, which allows deploying the army to the border. Since then, military troops can use rubber
bullets, pyrotechnical devices, tear gas grenades or net guns against refugees. They have also the
right to arrest and detain refugees for irregular border-crossing, which is punishable by up to five
years of imprisonment since the previous week.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee published an information note which presents the new measures
and highlights that policies violate human rights and international law.
- EU and regional developments
The EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, announced he will visit Serbia on Friday 25
September to discuss recent developments concerning refugees, especially with regard to the SerbiaCroatian border. Hanh will encourage Serbia to increase reception capacities, not only in existing
asylum centres, but also by creating new accommodation facilities.

On Tuesday 22 September, Serbia activated the Civic Protection Mechanism to provide additional
resources, such as food, beds, hygiene items, and vehicles, to support Serbian authorities in dealing
with the large number of refugees arriving in the country.
On Tuesday 22 September, the Albanian government created a working group to evaluate the
capacities of the country, in the case more refugees will enter Albania.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
-Facts and Figures
Bosnia and Herzegovina has still not seen an increase in the number of asylum seekers similar to the
neighbouring countries. In the first six months of 2015 there were no more than 30 asylum application
in BiH, and the Sector for Asylum Ministry of Security of BiH has recognized 2 subsidiary protection
statues for the same period.
- Registration of the intention to seek asylum
Pursuant to the Law on Movement and Residence of Foreigners and Asylum, if a person expresses
the intention to apply for international protection at a border crossing point in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, the Border Police is obliged to inform, without delay, the nearest Field Office of the
Service for Foreigner Affairs (SFFA) which then takes charge of the request. If a person states the
reasons indicating the necessity to apply the principle of non-refoulement, the authority to which they
have given such a statement must inform, without delay, the relevant Field Office of SFFA, which then
takes jurisdiction over them. When a foreigner has expressed their intention to apply for international
protection, the Field Office of SFFA issues them a confirmation of the expressed intention which is
valid for seven days maximum. After that the Sector for Asylum of the Ministry of Security conducts
the registration and the RSD interview.
- Registration of the asylum application and procedures
After an asylum application has been submitted, an asylum officer of the Sector for Asylum registers
the asylum seeker. The registration form must be filled in for all adult asylum seekers. Following the
registration procedure, an asylum seeker card is issued to the asylum applicant and the nucleus
family members accompanying them. The asylum seeker card is valid for three months and is
regarded as permission to stay in BiH pending a final or enforceable determination of the asylum
application. The asylum seeker card may be extended beyond the expiration date until an enforceable
or final decision on the asylum application is taken. The validity period of an asylum seeker card is
extended by the Field Office of SFFA, with the approval of the Sector for Asylum. An asylum seeker
must apply for extension of an asylum seeker card no later than 15 days prior to the expiration date,
and they are assisted in this by the organizations providing free legal aid.
Following the registration process, an interview is scheduled by the Sector for Asylum. The Law does
not expressly provide for the deadline within which the interview has to be conducted, except that it
has to be done without delay; in practice, this can take several months, depending on the number of
applications as the same time. An interview is an oral hearing conducted to establish properly the
facts of the case and, as a rule, pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, a
notification of an interview is sent to the asylum seeker or their legal representative at least eight days
prior to the date of the interview.
- Reception, shelter, assistance
The Law sets an obligation on the Ministry of Security to provide asylum seekers with the appropriate
reception conditions, including those relating to primary healthcare. An asylum seeker has the right to
follow the proceedings through an interpreter or a sign language interpreter who will be provided by

MoS. They also have a right to use the services of legal counseling in an asylum procedure. Asylum
seekers exercise the right to free legal aid from the moment of the expression of their intention to
apply for international protection, and from that moment, Ministry of Security, the Border Police and
SFFA have a legal obligation to inform asylum seekers of this right. Free legal aid is provided, with the
financial support of UNHCR by NGOs specialised in providing free legal aid, Association Vaa prava
BiH, which has been providing free legal aid to such categories since 2004, and Foundation of Local
Democracy NGO, since 2010.
Asylum seekers are provided with accommodation in the Asylum Center in Delija, which has the
capacity of 300 beds.
- Policy developments
Mr. Dragan Mekti, the minister in the Ministry of Security, at the press conference held on 18
September indicated that Bosnia and Herzegovina can accept up to 5,000 refugees, after which it
would be forced to close the border. This capacity would then likely also include, besides the asylum
centre in Delija, 120 beds at the Immigration center in Istono Sarajevo, 380 beds at the refugee
reception center Salakovac (with the possibility of expansion), and the military barracks near
Hadii, which is being adapted for the reception of asylum seekers.