14.03.2016 //
All three family pavilions and reception premises, heated and equipped with furniture, have been put to use at the reception center in Presevo, South Serbia.
The former tobacco plant, which has been transformed into a reception centre for refugees/migrants fleeing their home countries to escape war and poverty, can now offer decent accommodation for up to 650 people.
Besides dormitories, the refugee centre comprises a dining area, regular and toilets for the disabled, shower cabins, laundry rooms, and rooms for mothers with children. There is also space for recreation and children have their own playroom. Medical personnel have been moved from less suitable facilities to a newly furnished clinic.
The center, which officially opened on December 17, 2015, was built with the Norwegian support of 1.1 million euro. This is where refugees on the Balkan-route have been staying prior to heading to Austria and Germany. Serbia is the only country on the route to have been registering biometric data (finger prints) from people in transit, though this has not been done with everyone. More than 700,000 people have travelled through Serbia from July 2015 to March 2016. About 180,000 of them were registered with biometric data, while the rest traveled onwards with a document from the police. Macedonian police have not been taking any biometric data due to lack of proper equipment.
As Serbia’s friend when needed, in September 2015 Norway allocated emergency aid funds amounting to 6.5 million euro to prepare before the winter set in. The 6.5 million euro figure included the construction of reception centre in Presevo, support to UNHCR and other international organisations dealing with refugees in Serbia, as well as support to the civil society organisations dealing with refugee crisis.
Norway will continue its support to the countries in the Balkans in their handling of the refugee crisis, both through humanitarian support and help towards registration and permanent settlement in the area.
