Photo: APC
Source: APC

 

AC Obrenovac: In the camp, as in previous months, up to 60 persons still reside; the biggest problem remains the poor quality of food.

RC Preševo: The largest number of persons in RC Preševo were of Afghan origin. In addition, persons originating from Morocco, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkey (of Kurdish origin), and Ghana were also recorded. The conditions of stay in the camp remained unchanged compared to the previous period. Users still report the presence of bedbugs in accommodation units, lack of hygiene products, and unsatisfactory food quality.
In Preševo, besides relocations from the north, people still arrive directly after crossing the border with North Macedonia, guided by smugglers to the camp location, arriving on foot or by taxi.

RC Bujanovac: The problem of lack of drinking water, recorded the previous week as well, continued to be one of the most frequently reported issues. A single mother, M.L., stated that she leaves the camp daily to buy drinking water, since water is not provided in the camp. The same problem was reported by two unaccompanied minor boys from Morocco (16.07.2026, Bujanovac).

Southern border (North Macedonia – Serbia): Police violence during pushback into North Macedonia: On July 14, two persons from Afghanistan, Z.N. (1994) and O.K. (2002), stated that Serbian police beat them with batons immediately after crossing the border, after which they were returned to North Macedonia. A few hours later, they managed to cross the border again on foot and the same day reached the Reception Center Preševo.
During this week, a smaller number of entries into Serbia from North Macedonia were recorded — about 20 persons in two groups, mostly of Afghan origin.

Southeastern border (Bulgaria – Serbia): During the past week, the largest number of reported entries into Serbia was from Bulgaria. According to statements, at least 90 persons entered Serbia via this route in one week, mostly citizens of Morocco, followed by Pakistan, Egypt, and Afghanistan. The crossing usually takes place on foot, at night, after which organized vehicles transport them toward Belgrade or Subotica. One group was stopped by Serbian police near Pirot before reaching Belgrade: A.N. (1995), F.H. (1999), S.A. (2002), and R.K. (2006), persons from Pakistan, entered Serbia via Bulgaria together with 16 others. After crossing on foot, they were transported to Niš, then continued by bus to Belgrade, where they stayed for a week. After attempting to cross into Hungary, they were arrested by Hungarian police, returned to Serbian police, and then transferred to RC Preševo.

Smuggling: Reported amounts for smuggling services vary depending on country of origin and route:
Afghanistan – between €7,200 and €7,900
Pakistan – around €7,000
Bangladesh – around €10,000 (highest reported this week)
Morocco – around €5,000
Sudan – around €3,000
The most frequently reported route involved transport by vehicle from the border area with Bulgaria to Belgrade or directly to Subotica, several days of stay in forests (Kelebija, Subotica, or Selevenj near Horgoš), and attempts to cross the Hungarian border.
The safety of persons is endangered, exposed to risks of extortion and kidnapping by smugglers operating inside and around the reception camp in Preševo.

Case of kidnapping and extortion near RC Preševo: A person from Turkey, A.S. (1999), stated that smugglers enabled his entry into Serbia without payment after he gave them his mobile phone for communication with other migrants. Upon arrival in Serbia, a taxi driver demanded an additional €500. After he tried to escape, he was found, taken to an abandoned building near the cemetery in Preševo, tied to a chair, and threatened to call his family for money. Since the family could not pay, he was released near the reception center. He reported that the same driver continued to intimidate him afterwards (Preševo, 14.07.2026).

Case of kidnapping documented by the southern APC team on July 10: On July 14, I.A. was summoned to PS Preševo to give an official statement regarding the kidnapping. He is currently accommodated in a separate room in the camp. A person from Tunisia (acting as intermediary) from the smuggling network, who had previously directed I.A. to the smuggling group, appeared a few days earlier in RC Preševo. I.A. informed KIRS, after which police detained the person for three days and then returned him to the camp. I.A. stated that the person apologized and that he currently does not feel threatened due to police presence in the camp.

Hungarian border: Unaccompanied minors – endangered safety and exposure to injuries and violence: During this week, RC Bujanovac recorded a larger number of unaccompanied minors reporting various forms of violence and injuries. Several minors sustained hand injuries while attempting to cross the Hungarian border fence. They also reported violence allegedly suffered from Hungarian and Serbian police during detention..
Two unaccompanied minors from Morocco stated they were handcuffed for three hours until handed over to Serbian police. Reports also included verbal abuse and shouting by Hungarian police officers.
Several groups reported being pushed back from Hungary into Serbia during the past week. They said detention lasted on average 2–5 hours before pushback.
According to official Hungarian border police statistics, between July 1–17, 155 persons were prevented from crossing the border, while 161 persons were pushed back, mostly from Turkey, Palestine, Morocco, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Border with Bosnia and Herzegovina: Route redirected to BiH after failed attempt to cross into Hungary: H.A. (1997) entered Serbia via Bulgaria together with four others. After failing to cross into Hungary, a few days later he attempted to cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina. He described that BiH border police spotted and detained the group, used physical violence against them, and then pushed them back into Serbia, where Serbian border police took them over. Afterwards, he said he spent ten days in detention in Loznica, from where he was again transferred to RC Preševo, where he had stayed before attempting to cross into Hungary.