Our member the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation is on the front line of the welcoming and reception of refugees in Syria.
Here is below on monthly update of their actions to support them.

Environment
In November 2015, according to the UNHCR data, in Serbia were registered and passed through approximately 150.000 refugees: it is estimated is that 80.000 of them were males, 30.000 women, about 28.000 male children, and 18.000 female children. November 2015 in Serbia was equally challenging for the refugees, the Government, and all the organizations involved.
In the first week of November, crucial changes were made at national level impacting the path of and the work with the refugees. On Wednesday, 11th of November, a decision took place which led to a closing of the Berkasovo/Bapska (Serbia-Croatia) border crossing. Refugees started being transported by buses from Preševo  (entry point at the South of Serbia) to the train station in Šid (exit point at the North West of Serbia), where they are boarding trains to Croatia, and transported to Croatian Collective Centre in Slavonski Brod. Until the train from and to Croatia arrives, they have a break of 1 to 8 hours at the motel Adaševci, which was immediately involved in the process of renovation to be transformed in a Reception Center for Refugees (RCR).
Since November 18th, new policy regarding the registration of the refugees was introduced – only the refugees from Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan and Palestinian nationality were allowed to enter Croatia, and a number of people from Somalia, Congo, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Eritrea and other African countries were denied an access to Croatia. They stayed in the three RCR in and around Šid, waiting to be transported back to Krnjača RCR near Belgrade, until a new decision is made.
This change introduced new policies for the activities of the organizations working on the territory in Šid. At the train station, only four organizations were allowed to be active: Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of Serbia, UNHCR, Red Cross of Serbia and Medicine sans Frontieres. All humanitarian aid to the refugees was/is coordinated by the Red Cross.

Challenges
Being active from the start of migrant/refugee crisis, having teams in the field, fruitful long-term relationship with the CRM and the Red Cross, enabled EHO to be the first organization to be present after the changes. Stocks of humanitarian aid were on standby and ready to be delivered and fill the gaps of the Red Cross delivery.
After all these changes of rules to be active in field, EHO is delivering 1200-2000 parcels of humanitarian aid in two shifts – morning and evening shift at the motel, and 250-400 parcels per request and need to the, so called, Grey House RCR at the train station and RCR in Principovac.
Although in a decreased dimensions, non-food items are delivered – in the busses, together with the food and water parcels, and per short needs assessment, hats, blankets, trousers and other non-food items are reaching the beneficiaries.
EHO medical team works three times per week in shifts of 8 hours each in the two, newly renovated by EHO, infirmaries at the RCR in the motel. EHO medical team is one of the 7 organizations’ teams permitted to work in Sid, and one of 6 giving medical, and not psycho-social support.

Estimates
EHO is still active in the three RCR in and around Šid. In November 2015, EHO has delivered humanitarian goods to approximately 48.000 beneficiaries, of which 800 babies, 4000 children (up to 18 years old), 300 elderly and 150 people with disabilities. As always, the highest priority has been women and children.

Food
In November, daily were delivered 1200 to 2000 parcels of humanitarian aid, that included distribution of 40.000 pieces of bread, 20.000 liters of (o,5l) bottled water, 13 tons of fresh fruit (bananas and apples), 30.000 packs of biscuits and energy bars, 16.500 packs of peanuts and dried fruits, 20.000 chocolate bars and 13.000 individual portion bags of honey have been delivered.

Hygiene
In the packages for hygiene, 700 pieces of soap, 10.000 pocket tissues, 10.000 pocket and baby wet wipes were delivered, along with 500 baby diapers and 500 sanitary pads packs.

Non-food items
As well, a distribution of 140 blankets, 100 rucksacks, 800 pair of socks, 500 pieces of underwear, 400 winter hats and gloves, and 100 children’s track suits was accomplished.

Medicine and first aid
Out of approximately 3000 beneficiaries, the most common first medical aid provided to approximately 90 people was in the form of cleaning, sterilizing and treating feet wounds. Along with their treatment they were supplied with creams and ointments for the next few days. Per request, and with doctor’s approval, 1500 painkillers were delivered (for headache and toothache), 310 gastro-intestinal drugs, and 60 packs of tablets for chronic diseases. About 250 packs of vitamins, eye and nose drops were delivered.

Perspectives
At the EU Summit on Refugees Crisis held in Brussels (25 October 2015), leaders have agreed on a 17-point plan of action among which has been agreed that the countries on the refugees‘ route should increase their capacity to provide temporary shelter, food, health, water and sanitation to all in need. Greece will have to accommodate about 50’000 refugees, while the other Balkan countries will accommodate the other 50’000. Serbia will, most probably, accommodate tens of thousands refugees.
As a response to establishing temporary shelters in Serbia, HEKS/EPER, EHO and the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, have started to invest into interior works and equipment for the Reception Centre for Refugees in motel “Adaševci” (Municipality of Šid), which is to temporary accommodate about 800 refugees on their way to EU/Croatia.
The new interevention is based on the acute refugees needs for temporary shelter and winterization in the border region to Croatia, where Serbia is establishing three Reception Centres for Refugees.
The project will provide support to establish temporary Reception Centres for Refugees at the following “waiting zone facilities” in vicinity to the Croatian border: motel “Adaševci” (20 km from railway station in Šid, ruined motel, on the motorway, in process of renovation and functionalization) and Šid Centre (next to the railway station, in process of renovation). The HEKS/EPER – EHO support is designed as subsidiary support to the state (Commissariat for Refugees and Migration) intervention in order to fill urgent gaps.

 

Nataša Markovksa Momčilović and Robert Bu
4 December 2015, EHO, Novi Sad, Serbia