Photo: APC
Source: APC

 

Asylum Center (AC) Obrenovac: In the camp there are still between 50 and 60 persons. As in previous months, the biggest problem reported by the persons residing in the campn is the quality of food. They state that the food is tasteless, without spices and insufficiently cooked, because of which they often buy food in nearby markets.

Difficulties in communication with doctors due to insufficient knowledge of the Serbian language: Camp beneficiaries also pointed out difficulties when going to the doctor. If they are not accompanied by an employee of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration or the employee does not enter the office with them, they have difficulties in communication with the doctor due to insufficient knowledge of the Serbian language.

Reception Center (RC) Preševo: The conditions of stay in the camp remained mostly unchanged compared to the previous period. Persons still report the presence of bedbugs in accommodation units, lack of hygiene products and unsatisfactory quality of food. Regarding health service in the camp, doctors issue prescriptions, but medicines must be bought by themselves in local pharmacies.

The largest number of persons in RC Preševo are persons originating from Afghanistan, and persons originating from Morocco, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Ghana.

RC Bujanovac: Lack of drinking water still represents a problem in the camp during this week. Doctors in the camp in the last few months work regularly, unlike the earlier period when their services were provided on a voluntary basis as the camp residents state.

Situation at the southern border: Police violence during pushback to North Macedonia:

Illustrative is the case of F. J. (25) and his nephew A. J. (16), originating from Afghanistan, who testify that after being intercepted by police after crossing the Serbian–Macedonian border, policemen beat them with batons on the back, arms and legs, after which they pushed them back into North Macedonia.

Situation at the southeastern border: During the past week a larger number of reported entries into Serbia from the direction of Bulgaria is still recorded, compared to entries from the direction of North Macedonia.

Situation at the northern border: violent pushback of a family originating from Afghanistan, physical violence against a nine‑year‑old child: During the second attempt of crossing, after entering the territory of Hungary, the family from Afghanistan was stopped by Hungarian border services. According to their statements, Hungarian police before the pushback hit the nine‑year‑old boy in the face, whereby he sustained visible injuries. The family photographed the injury immediately after the event. They also stated that the police used offensive language during communication. After approximately 12 hours of detention, the family was returned to Serbia together with four adult men. Upon return to Serbia, Serbian police detained them for 24 hours in some facility resembling a garage, in conditions they described as very poor, with inadequate hygiene. After that the family was transferred to RC Bujanovac, while the adult men who were returned with them to Serbia were transferred to RC Preševo.

According to the same persons, Hungarian police detains groups between 5 and 12 hours before returning them to Serbia. Different forms of physical and verbal violence were reported, including forcing them to lie face down for a certain period of time.

According to official statistics of Hungarian border police, in the period from 27.07. to 31.07.2026 a total of 32 persons originating from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Libya and Palestine were returned from the territory of Hungary to Serbia, which represents a decrease compared to two weeks earlier. The assumption, however, is that the real numbers are higher than the official ones.

Unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable categories – exposure of children and minors, as well as other vulnerable categories, to the risk of police violence, injuries during attempts to cross borders and pushbacks exists both at the northern and at the southern border of Serbia.

Price of smuggling services: For the journey from Turkey to Serbia, refugee persons report amounts from 6,000 to 8,000 euros, and in the case of a family, for the travel of four family members from Turkey to Greece 20,000 euros was paid, which represents a significantly higher cost per person compared to individual journeys.

The route through Subotica and further to Hungary is still active, despite multiple pushbacks, border controls, Hungarian double fence and police violence of Hungarian officers as well as inflicted injuries.