Date: 04.09.2026.
Source: APC
Photo: APC

 

Reception Center (RC) Preševo: During this week, several groups arrived at RC Preševo that entered Serbia from the direction of North Macedonia, most often originating from Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as from Egypt. Some persons reached the center independently, while others had previously been stopped at various locations in Serbia. Arrests/stops were recorded at bus stations in Bujanovac, Belgrade, and Niš, as well as in the area of Subotica, after which the persons were relocated by the police to RC Preševo.

– Poor hygiene conditions represented the most frequently reported problem in RC Preševo. Every group of migrants that our teams in the south spoke with during this week mentioned problems related to hygiene, and some persons also reported the presence of bedbugs. Poor quality of food and unpleasant smell in the rooms were also mentioned

Reception Center (RC) Bujanovac: In RC Bujanovac, during this week, unaccompanied minors stayed who had entered Serbia from the direction of North Macedonia.

– Irregularities in accommodation and registration. During this week, in RC Bujanovac, adult single men were also accommodated, contrary to the internal rules of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration related to this camp (among others K.A. 1994, A.S. 2006), even though the camp is intended for families and unaccompanied minors. None of the single men were traveling with a minor, nor were they related to any other member of the group. Additionally, for some of the single men, an irregularity was identified in their personal data on their camp cards regarding the country of origin and the correct name and surname, about which the competent institutions were informed by APC.

Asylum Center (AC) Vranje: After initial difficulties and obstacles, as well as the prior intervention of the APC team and the submission of an urgent request to the inspector for foreigners for registration and the issuance of temporary protection, baby S. F., born in Vranje to parents of Ukrainian origin, was successfully registered. The family received the appropriate decision granting temporary protection and an identification document.
During the APC legal intervention and efforts to establish contact with the family, there were clear attempts to prevent the APC lawyer from visiting the Ukrainian family in AC Vranje. KIRS staff repeatedly raised the issue of a written permit for entering the center, stating that they had not received authorization for the APC lawyer’s entry from their headquarters in Belgrade via email. Ultimately, the visit and direct contact between the APC lawyer and the Ukrainian family were enabled by KIRS officials managing AC Vranje.

Situation at the southern border – North Macedonia / Serbia
During this week, most persons stated that they crossed the border on foot from the direction of North Macedonia, after which they used taxis or vehicles organized by smugglers to reach the camp in Preševo or Bujanovac/the bus station. After entering Serbia, some groups immediately continued their journey via Bujanovac or Niš toward Belgrade by bus transport, while other groups spent between two and five days in apartments provided by smugglers in Belgrade before continuing toward Subotica and the border with Hungary.

– Police violence and pushbacks to North Macedonia. In this period, three groups reported that during their first attempt to enter from North Macedonia they were stopped by Serbian police, physically mistreated and beaten with batons, after which they were effectively returned to the territory of North Macedonia. According to their statements, the persons then attempted entry again and managed to enter Serbia the same or the following day. Illustratively, on 01.09.2026, a group of persons originating from Afghanistan (F.K. (2004), H.K. (2007), and R.K. (2007)) described that after crossing into the territory of Serbia they were physically mistreated and beaten, after which they were pushbacked to North Macedonia.

– Police violence by Serbian border police toward unaccompanied minors during pushbacks to the territory of North Macedonia: Z. W. (2009) and S. H. W. (2011), citizens of Afghanistan, attempted to enter Serbia from North Macedonia together with five other migrants. According to their statements, during the first attempt they were stopped by Serbian police. They stated that on that occasion they were beaten with batons and physically mistreated, after which they were unlawfully and effectively returned to North Macedonia.

– Movement through Serbia and bus transit: During the week, a trend of more frequent use of public bus transport for transit through Serbia was present. In one illustrative case, a group of refugees, according to their testimony, after crossing the border with North Macedonia on foot, reached Bujanovac by taxi, and then continued by bus to Belgrade. In Belgrade they spent two days, after which they went by bus to Subotica. According to their statements, they did not attempt to cross the border with Hungary because they were unable to organize further transport.

Situation at the northern border – Serbia / Hungary
Continuation of the journey toward Hungary mostly depends on the organization of smuggling logistics, including transport, guides, and the organization of the border crossing itself. This week there were no reports or statements about attempts to cross into Hungarian territory. According to official data of Hungarian police, in the period from 31.08 – 04.09, a total of 25 persons were apprehended and pushbacked, the largest number originating from Bangladesh, then Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya, and Albania, while 51 persons were prevented in the attempt to cross.

Smuggling fees
The costs of smuggling services remain very high. Persons originating from Afghanistan who came to Serbia via North Macedonia stated that for the journey from Turkey to Serbia they paid on average around €6,000 per person. In some cases, the journey was paid in stages, especially after a longer stay in Turkey during which persons collected money for the continuation of the journey. One group stated the price of €7,500 per person for the journey from Turkey to Serbia, with the price including transport from the southern border area of Serbia to Belgrade, and then to Subotica. Persons originating from Egypt stated a price of approximately €6,000 for the journey from Egypt to Serbia. For the complete journey from Pakistan to Serbia or from Afghanistan to Serbia, significantly higher amounts were reported: €10,000, €12,000, €15,000, and up to €18,000 per person.
One person stated that he sold his grandfather’s house, another sold his wife’s jewelry, while two brothers borrowed money and expect that upon arrival they will have to work in order to repay the debt while simultaneously supporting their families. Persons from Pakistan described the sale of houses, land, and jewelry to finance the departure of male family members as a trend that, according to their statements, is present in the area of Khyber Agency.