MIGRANTS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE IN NORTHERN SERBIA, POLICE RELOCATES THEM TO PRESEVO, TAXI DRIVERS BRING THEM BACK

1. March 2021.

Subotica, Presevo - At the moment, 168 migrants are staying at the Reception Center in Subotica, mostly those from Syria, as well as those from Algeria and Afghanistan, while it is estimated that slightly more than 200 migrants are staying outside the center, at the locations where they gather most often, as well as in the area close to the border, according to the data from the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration.

In order to reduce the pressure of migrants on the northern part of the country, the Commissariat, in cooperation with the local self-government and the police, organized, on several occasions, the campaigns for relocating migrants from Subotica to the centers in southern Serbia. Thus, at the end of October, about 300 migrants were relocated, while at the end of November, another 200 migrants were relocated to the Presevo Reception Center.

"From November 25 until today, there have been three major campaigns during which close to 400 migrants have been relocated to centers in southern Serbia", the Commissariat said, adding that they regularly carry out such campaigns, which are aimed at relieving the northern part of the country.

On the other hand, the general impression, as daily evidenced by the posts of citizens on social networks, is that there are many more migrants who are also present in the city center, where they go for walks and buy groceries and it is difficult to estimate their number, and even more difficult to say if they are new migrants or those who have returned.

Citizens also report daily that they come across situations where the police intervenes, both against migrants and taxi drivers, who are suspected of transporting these people, who, as a rule, do not have documents and are staying in Serbia illegally.

It is expected that the arrival of nicer weather will affect the increased movement of migrants and their more intensive attempts to cross the border line of our northern neighbor.

Source: Subotica.com and Coordination Body