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In 2022 the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration responsibly took care of refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants

During 2022 the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia worked responsibly and humanely towards all categories of persons under the jurisdiction of the Commissariat.

According to the latest statistical data of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration in 2022 119,127 new arrivals were registered at the Reception and Asylum Centres. Some stay longer, some stay shorter and the average stay is approximately 16 days. Each one of the migrants who passed through the Centres managed by the Commissariat received accommodation, food, clothing, medical care and humane treatment by those who work with them.

At the moment 4,047 people are staying in as many as 18 active Reception and Asylum Centres. Most migrants are from Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Morocco and India.

“Although the number of migrants passing through Serbia has increased compared to the same period last year, Serbia has shown responsibility in taking care of them and we stand for a comprehensive solution to the current migrant crisis. Despite great challenges Serbia commences the new year with one of the best organized migration reception and management systems, and for that it received praise in this year's European Commission Report on Serbia's Accession to the European Union,'' said Commissioner Nataša Stanisavljević.

Our country has activated a system of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the conflict which enables them to access health services, education, social protection and employment. The Asylum Centre in Vranje is dedicated only to the refugees from Ukraine where there are currently 83 persons of which 20 are children attending school. Also, since the beginning of the conflict 137,205 Ukraine citizens have passed through the Republic of Serbia and the Commissariat helped approximately 4,000 of those into the private accommodation. According to the data of the Asylum Office up until and including 27 December 2022, a total of 1,105 persons from Ukraine were subject to a decision for temporary protection.

In the past year the Commissariat has taken care of and helped the most vulnerable refugee families in the Region. Regional Housing Programme is in full implementation. Throughout 2022, within the Framework of the Regional Housing Programme, 766 housing solutions were provided to the refugee families namely 118 packages of construction materials, 69 assembly houses, 88 houses with a garden and 491 apartments in the countryside, and a total of 6,884 housing solutions have been allocated within this project. In the coming year we expect occupation of newly built residential buildings in Belgrade, Arandjelovac, Novi Sad, Vrnjačka Banja, Pančevo, Vrbas, Čačak, Pećinci and Zrenjanin. Within the Regional Housing Programme which ends on 30 June 2023, aimed to provide housing to 7,624 most vulnerable families from the territory of the former Yugoslavia who have the status of refugees, close to 500 solutions remain to be implemented Commissioner Stanisavljević pointed out.

Over the years, the Republic of Serbia and the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration provided housing for a total of 26,151 families, 19,573 for refugees from the former Republics of SFRY and 6,499 internally displaced persons from Kosovo and Metohija, as well as 79 families of returnees under the Re-Admission Agreement. 22,580 families of refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees were economically empowered under the Re-Admission Agreement by receiving funds for income-generating activities.

 "We are grateful for the support and co-operation of Local Self-Government Districts which are affected by the increased number of migrants, International Organizations and Donors above all the European Union, Implementation Partners, the Non-Governmental Sector as well as those who recognized the needs and helped local communities, State Institutions and International Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations interested in faster and more complete migration management. On this occasion as we usher the New Year, I would like to congratulate all associates, partners and citizens and wish above all else good health and happiness. In 2023, the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia will continue with the good practice of decent treatment of refugees from all over the world and show that Serbia is a safe country, open to everyone and fully prepared to respond to all the challenges it faces in the migration management process, and also the care of internally displaced persons”.