FYR MACEDONIA INTER-AGENCY OPERATIONAL UPDATE 5 11 February 2016 KEY FIGURES 1 January 2015-11 February 2016 465,463 Registered intentins t apply fr asylum 31% f registered intentins were expressed by children 2,109 Applicatins fr asylum 81% f asylum applicatins were frm the tp ten refugee-prducing cuntries 2 Persns granted refugee status 5 11 February 2016 17,084 Registered intentins t seek asylum 26 Applicatins fr asylum 4,299 Persns prvided first aid 807 Medical assistance t children HIGHLIGHTS 17,084 refugees and migrants crssed the brder int fyr Macednia frm 5 11 February 2016, with a daily average f 2,441. Since UNHCR began mnitring departures frm Gevgelija n 1 July 2015 sme 766,057 refugees and migrants have departed. In the perid frm 5 11 February 2016, 26 applicatins fr asylum were filed, while frm 1 January 2015 t 11 February 2016, 2,109 asylum applicatins were submitted ut f which 1,012 (49%) were submitted by Syrians, 395 (20%) by Afghans, and 176 (8.4%) by Iraqis. S far nly 2 persns have been recgnised as refugees in 2015-2016, bth unaccmpanied children, ne frm Iraq and ne frm Syria. Fr the perid 1 January 11 February ttal f 213 applicatins, ut f which 37 were submitted by Afghans, 15 by Syrians, and 4 by Iraqis. During the reprting perid, 161 peple were returned frm Vinjug transit centre, n the suthern brder f the frmer Yugslav Republic f Macednia t the Greek brder fr pssessing frged dcuments, n dcuments, r fr being natinals f cuntries ther than Afghanistan, Iraq, r Syria. On 5 February the fyr Macednia Army started building a secnd metal fence n the brder crssing with Greece five meters frm the first fence. The Czech plice arrived n 6 February t assist fyr Macednia brder plice. A statement frm the Cratian Ministry f Interir s spkespersn was published in Dvenik n 10 February asserting: It is nt true that the Slavnski Brd camp will be clsed. The plan fr registratin t take place nly n the Macednian brder will still be discussed. These are pssible slutins, and the issues will be slved as the situatin develps. As far as the prpsal that was discussed t take refugees frm Gevgelija directly t Austria, fyr Macednia Minister f Freign Affairs, Nikla Ppski, said that he cannt speak t this issue which depends n several cuntries and that such a measure has nt been agreed upn. 15,346 Fd packages distributed 5,154 Pieces f clthing distributed PRIORITIES Assist the Gvernment and civil sciety in respnding t the mst urgent humanitarian and prtectin needs f the refugees Strengthen the asylum systems in the cuntry in line with applicable internatinal standards 1
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS Operatinal Cntext 17,084 refugees and migrants crssed the brder int fyr Macednia during the reprting perid 5 11 February 2016, with a daily average f 2,441. Since UNHCR began mnitring the departures frm Gevgelija n 1 July 2015 sme 766,057 refugees and migrants have departed. Origin f Arrivals 19 June 2015-11 February 2016 (Surce MI) 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 253520 120052 70450 21441 Syria Afghanistan Iraq Others The Ministry f Interir s statistics f refugees and migrants declaring their intentin t apply fr asylum reached 465,463 including 144,759 (31%) children, f whm 18,300 (4% f children) were registered as unaccmpanied since 19 June 2015 until 11 February 2016. Of these 255,350 (54%) f the arrivals are Syrians, 121,274 (26%) Afghans, 71,338 (15%) Iraqis, and the remaining (5%) represent ther natinalities such as Iranians, Palestinians, Pakistanis, Smalis, Cnglese and Bangladeshi. Achievements Prtectin A new interview frm fr Unaccmpanied and Separated Children (UASC) was adpted by the Ministry f Labur and Scial Plicy (MLSP) in Vinjug. The new interview frm was prpsed by UNHCR in cnsultatin with child prtectin partners wrking in the receptin centre. During the Prtectin Crdinatin meeting n 11 February, UNHCR presented statistics and analysis n Unaccmpanied and Separated Children reflecting data cllected thrugh 358 interviews with UASC cnducted in Vinjug and Tabanvce between 18 December 2015 and 8 February 2016 (please refer t attached UNHCR Skpje Update n Unaccmpanied and Separated Children). An ICRC Delegatin cmpsed f the Head f the ICRC Restring Family Links & Missing Persns divisin in Geneva, the Transreginal Crdinatr fr Restring Family Links & Missing persns in Belgrade, the ICRC Prtectin Delegate in Belgrade and the ICRC RFL Prgram Officer in Belgrade visited Vinjug n 10 February. The Delegatin infrmed that ICRC will cnduct a 3-mnth assessment n prtectin needs and gaps in 6 cuntries alng the Balkans rute. They als shared that ICRC will pen a missin in Athens sn. ICRC s aim is t implement a cherent cmmn RFL 2
(Restring Family Links) strategy all alng the rute. They were briefed by UNHCR tgether with MYLA and La Strada, namely n the situatin f Unaccmpanied and Separated Children. On 10 February UNHCR attended the regular multi-agency crdinatin wrking grup meeting rganised by the Ministry f Health and supprted by UNFPA t further discuss issues related t SGBV in the emergency cntext. The Wrking Grup als addressed frthcming activities related t finalising the draft SOPs n prcessing SGBV survivrs and sensitising service prviders in bth transit centres n vulnerabilities and risk factrs fcusing n preventin, utreach, first aid including safety, health, and well-being. The fllw-up activities will be supprted by UNHCR and UNFPA. In additin t the existing member, the Wrking Grup was expanded t representatives f the Ministry f Justice, Public Prsecutr s Office and Medical Examiners t ffer their expertise in the finalisatin prcess. The Child and Family Prtectin Supprt Hub (CFPSH) cntainer in Vinjug transit centre has been mdified t better cater t its functin. The final lcatin f the cntainer is yet t be determined fllwing changes in registratin prcedure in the centre. Frm 5 11 February 2016, apprximately 4,139 children and 2,165 wmen were prvided with supprt, including emtinal and psychscial assistance, in the UNICEF Child Friendly Space perated by the NGO La Strada in Vinjug. La Strada identified and assisted 285 vulnerable individuals. In Tabanvce La Strada assisted and supprted apprximately 1,333 children and 2,920 wmen. The activities are funded by UNICEF, UNHCR, GIZ, The Embassy f the Kingdm f the Netherlands, Save the Children and Terre des Hmmes. Frm 5 11 February 2016, Apprximately 1,794 children and 1,043 wmen were prvided with supprt, including emtinal and psychscial assistance in the Child Friendly Space perated by the SOS Children s Village in Tabanvce. Additinally, 37 pregnant wmen identified and assisted. The activities are funded by the SOS Kinderdrf Internatinal and UNICEF. During the reprting perid 323 refugee grup leaders, representing 16,321 refugees were given infrmatin abut their rights and bligatins in fyr Macednia at the Vinjug site by the Macednia Yung Lawyers Assciatin (MYLA), wh als assisted 26 asylum seekers at the Vizbegv Receptin Center with their asylum prcedure. MYLA als ensured priritisatin in 51 cases, arund 74 vulnerable individuals fr their registratin in Vinjjug. MYLA's data entry clerks assisted the Brder Plice in issuing 17,086 intentins fr asylum during the reprting perid. In additin t having a 24/7 hur presence in Vinjug, MYLA is als present 24/7 at the TC Tabanvce. As in Vinjug, MYLA prvides legal aid and infrmatin, with a special fcus f unaccmpanied children, Extremely Vulnerable Individuals (EVI), and persns that have prblems with their dcuments r wh have nt been registered. During the reprting perid, in clse crdinatin with UNHCR, the Red Crss, DRC and La Strada staff in Tabanvce, 63 EVIs and 221 members f their families/grups were transprted by Mercy Crps frm Tabanvce transit centre t brder with Serbia, and referred t the MSF and DRC teams t be picked up at the brder, and t the Mercy Crps team at Miratvac RAP. The Mercy Crps Tabanvce team has been supprted by tw vlunteers f Operatin Mercy, experienced in emergency wrk and wrk with EVIs. Site Visits: On 5 February, an Organisatin fr Security and Cperatin in Eurpe (OSCE) team went t Tabanvce and met with the Crisis Management Centre site manager. On 8 February, members f the Eurpean Parliament visited Vinjug receptin centre. They were accmpanied and briefed by the UNHCR team with regard t the prcedures in the site and the wrk that UNHCR is perfrming with all partners in rder t prvide prtectin and assistance t the refugees. After the visit, they departed twards Eidmeni. On 9 February, ne f the Members f Parliament went t Tabanvce and was briefed n the latest develpments. 3
The President f the frmer Yugslav Republic f Macednia visited the Vinjug receptin centre fr the secnd time n 9 February. He met with representatives frm UNHCR and the Red Crss. He als spke shrtly with several refugees regarding the cnditins in the receptin centre and the services prvided. At the end f his visit, he thanked UNHCR fr the supprt prvided in dealing with the refugee crisis. The President f fyr Macednia, Gjrge Ivanv s t the Vinjug receptin center. UNHCR, Gevgelija (fyr Macednia), 9 February 2016 Als, n 9 February, Representatives frm the Western Balkans Department/British Embassy Delegatin visited the Vinjug site. They met briefly with representatives frm UNHCR and were infrmed abut the wrk f UNHCR and its partners. They als visited the brder and met with representatives frm MOI. On 10 February, UNICEF met with representatives f the START Netwrk (a rapid funding mechanism fr medium scale emergencies) in Vinjug transit centre and prvided them with sme general backgrund infrmatin n the develpments in the Vinjug transit centre and available child-fcused services as well as highlighted sme f the challenges and risks faced by children and their families as they travel frm their cuntry f rigin t their final destinatin cuntry. On 10 February, a member f the Czech Parliament visited the Vinjug receptin centre and was briefed abut the general situatin cncerning the refugee flw. A frmer Minister f Interir, Mr. Pavle Trajanv, currently an MP, visited RC Vinjug and was briefed by UNHCR n 11 February. Fr Palestinians wh were residing in Syria, fyr Macednian plice is nw requiring that this be specified n the Greek registratin dcument (Palestinian/Syrian). During the reprting perid a few cases were returned t Greece t have their registratin dcuments amended. Further training is needed fr the scial wrkers respnsible fr interviewing UASC t be able t determine apprpriate status (unaccmpanied r separated children) and fllw-up steps. On 6 February, the Chief f Plice infrmed that refugees wuld nly be transprted by train frm then n, and that the authrities wuld deal with any strikes as they ccurred. On 7 February, taxi drivers threatened t blck the railway again. Rit plice were deplyed alng the railway tracks befre the entrance t the Vinjug receptin centre t stp taxi drivers frm blcking the train tracks. During the regular humanitarian crdinatin meeting which tk place n 8 February in Vinjug, the Crisis Management Centre reiterated that the nly means f transprtatin fr refugees wuld be the train. Taxi and private bus drivers blcked the regular brder crssing with Greece at Bgrdica as a sign f revlt against the decisin. During the reprting perid there were reprts that the train was verladed, with thse already n bard lcked in while the barding cntinued fr several hurs. During the perid there was still n agreed prcedure fr the transprtatin f undcumented and ther individuals frm Tabanvce t Gevgelija wh expressed their interest t return t Greece. In the meantime, the railway cmpany did nt accept t take them back t Gevgelija by train unless they are granted authrisatin frm the Ministry f Interir. On 11 February, UNHCR Greece referred a grup f arund 30 persns t UNHCR in Vinjug wh were nt allwed t crss int fyr Macednia because f prblems with their dcuments. The Brder Plice Cmmander in Vinjug infrmed UNHCR staff that a meeting was held with their Greek cunterparts t discuss the cncerned dcuments as they were phtcpies but had riginal plice stamps n them. He als mentined that the fyr Macednian plice wuld make it a plicy nt t accept anything ther than cmpletely riginal dcuments. UNHCR Greece clleagues explained that phtcpied dcuments with stamps are issued by Greek plice fr peple wh lse their dcuments. 4
Health During the reprting perid the Red Crss assisted 10,742 individuals, ut f which 205 were pregnant wmen and 807 were children. 4,299 persns received first aid. The Red Crss is wrking in shifts t prvide medical assistance and first aid in Gevgelija and Tabanvce 24/7. This activity is funded by UNHCR and the Red Crss. On 5 February, a UNHCR Senir Public Health Officer frm Geneva went t the Vinjug site and was briefed by the Red Crss abut the medical assistance prvided t refugees, referrals t the MH ambulance and ther medical interventins. The Public Health delegatin then prceeded t Idmeni in Greece. UNFPA thrugh its partner, the Red Crss, distributed 66 hand disinfectants. In Tabanvce an increased number f refugees arriving by taxi were tired and had cld symptms. Fd Security and Nutritin Legis, Nun, Kalliri, Agape, Drcas, La Strada, Help the Refugee in Macednia, Caritas, UNHCR, UNFPA and Red Crss distributed: Fd distributed Scks Glves Clthes Jackets Scarves Blankets Ftwear Hats Bags and backpacks Raincats Baby blankets Baby clths Sleeping bags Baby carriers Trches Baby Trlleys 429 255 203 95 50 2 2174 1790 3865 3730 3318 3221 5154 4592 6020 8572 The baby fd that is distributed in the child-friendly spaces in Gevgelija and Tabanvce is funded by UNICEF and SOS Children s Village. 5
Water and Sanitatin Red Crss, Help the Refugees in Macednia, La Strada, UNFPA and ther NGOs distributed: Water and Sanitatin Water 1 L Hygiene packs 2272 Diapers 1629 Hygiene pads 600 Baby csmetics 341 Baby bttles 200 Medical packages fr pregnant wmen 13 First aid and medicines 1 11106 A lcal state wned cmpany tk ver waste dispsal in Tabanvce; hwever, they did nt shw up n site fr sme time s a large amunt f garbage accumulated in the site, especially in the area arund and in frnt f the Rub halls. On 6 February, upn the request f MLSP the cmpany started cllecting and dispsing f the waste in the afternn. Cmmunicatin and Infrmatin The UNHCR Emergency Lab/UNHCR Innvatin Unit team fcusing n Cmmunicating with Cmmunities (CwC) returned t fyr Macednia t cntinue supprting the prjects being pilted in the cuntry, including t test the Ggle Translatin Cards mbile app with UNHCR staff and refugees, t set up additinal TV screens and develpment f cntent, and t supprt the develpment f SOPs fr the Infrmatin and Advice Desk (IAD). Infrmatin and Advice Desk in Vinjug receptin centre. UNHCR Gevgelija (fyr Macednia) February 2016 Partners finalised the Terms f Reference fr the psitin f Infrmatin and Advice Desk Assistant fr the recruitment f fur individuals (tw funded by UNICEF and tw funded by UNHCR) under the NGO La Strada/Open Gate t manage the IAD in Vinjug receptin centre. The vacancy annuncement is expected t be advertised n 17 February. UNICEF and UNHCR will prvide technical supprt t La Strada/Open Gate t facilitate the recruitment prcess. 6
Télécms Sans Frntières (TSF), present in the Vinjug Receptin Centre since Octber 2015, installed new Wi-Fi access pints t bst its existing cnnectin allwing a higher density f peple (up t 2000 individuals) t be cnnected simultaneusly t the internet. Shelter and NFIs UNHCR, Red Crss, La Strada, Nun, Legis, Help the Refugees in Macednia, MSF, SOS Children s Village, and UNICEF distributed: Shelter and NFI Fd packages Ht sups Laves f bread Cups f tea Crissants Cked Meals Juice Biscuits Fresh fruits kg Sandwiches Dried fruits Age apprpriate fd Breakfast Chclate Milk 1488 1322 1200 1000 926 600 395 3830 3600 3079 5019 9600 8600 15346 Wrk n the new distributin pint fr clthing/ NFIs in Vinjug receptin centre was nging. The first flr f the steel structure was cmpleted and the secnd flr was nearly dne. Tw ut f ten UNHCR Refugee Husing Units (RHUs) were fully equipped and prepared fr vernight stays with three bunkbeds (in ttal 6 persns) and a heating unit in each RHU. IOM delivered three cntainers fr refugees t the Tabanvce transit site and six mre cntainers are expected. On 6 February, the Crisis Management Centre Deputy Manager n site reprted that tw janitrs were caught in the mrning attempting t take a large quantity f fd and NFIs ut f the Tabanvce site. They were reprted t the plice, wh tk the necessary steps t return the gds t the transit centre t be distributed t refugees. The janitrs will face criminal charges. The gds were estimated at 28,000 MKD. The UNICEF-dnated pwer generatrs fr use in Tabanvce are still nt cnnected t the pwer grid. UNICEF raised this issue with lcal authrities (Crisis Management Centre and Ministry f Labur and Scial Plicy) and was assured by the MLSP that these generatrs will be cnnected t the Tabanvce pwer grid as sn as pssible, and will assure a quality pwer supply. UNICEF will fllw-up n this issue. 7
Wrking in partnership The weekly crdinatin meeting tk place n 8 February 2016 in Gevgelija but nt in Tabanvce. A natinal Prtectin Crdinatin meeting tk place n 11 February at the UNHCR ffice in Skpje, with Gvernment and prtectin rganisatins. Partners wrking with the Ministries and municipalities t prvide prtectin and assistance t refugees are: Agape, ASB, Caritas, Cperative Baptist Fellwship f Macednia, Danish Partners assisting children in Vinjug receptin centre. UNHCR/P.Dimitrv, Gevgelija (fyr Macednia) February 2016 Caritas, DRC, Drcas, Eur Human, GIZ, Grain f Gdness, Habitat fr Humanity, Help the Refugees in Macednia, HERA, IOM, JRS, Kalliri, La Strada Open Gate, Legis, MCMS (Macednian Centre fr Internatinal Cperatin), Mercy Crps, Merhamet, MYLA, Nun, Operatin Mercy, Peple in need, Red Crss, Samaritan s Purse, Securs Islamique France, SOS Children s Village, Télécms Sans Frntières (TSF), Terre des hmmes, Vlaznia Kumanv, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF and WHO. During the weekly meeting in Gevgelija the Centre fr Crisis Management requested that NGOs nt get invlved in wrk utside the scpe f their regular peratins. Cntacts: Lauren Panetta Chammas, Reprting Officer, panetta@unhcr.rg, Cell + 389 (0) 70 298 101 Ljubinka Brashnarska, PI/External Relatins, brashnar@unhcr.rg, Tel: +389 2 311 8641, Cell + 389 (0) 72 269 346 8