Managing migration in the times of COVID-19 epidemic

At the time of the declaration of the state of emergency on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, about 5,900 migrants were accommodated in the centers for accommodation of asylum seekers and in reception centers.

As of March 15, 2020, and with the declaration of a state of emergency, all migrants who were staying outside the centers were accommodated in some of the facilities managed by the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration.

Accommodation capacities became small to provide a shelter for everyone who needed it. That is why new capacities were opened, namely temporary centers in Miratovac and Morović. During the months of the state of emergency, more than 9,000 migrants were accommodated in the centers, so it was necessary to expand the capacities. That resulted in setting up tents and rubb halls.

As before the COVID-19 epidemic, but as well as during these extraordinary circumstances, thanks to the funds of the European Union provided within the EU Support to Migration Management in Serbia, migrants residing on the territory of Serbia were provided with protection, accommodation, food and health care.

During the state of emergency, the informing of migrants about the current situation in Serbia and the world was intensified. Every day they were given a newsletter with the latest information translated into several languages.

After the state of emergency was lifted on May 7, the number of migrants began to decline, so the current number of accommodated migrants is around 5,000.

Although a minor number of incidents was recorded, the migrants patiently and responsibly shared the fate of the citizens of Serbia. They respected the measures of enhanced hygienic protection, and in a couple of centers they sewed masks for themselves and the staff of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration. They also offered help to the State of Serbia, namely health workers among them. Some have expressed a desire to join the public services and help disinfect public areas in the combat against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Thanks to the great efforts of all actors and institutions involved in migration management, no cases of COVID-19 infection have been reported among the migrant population.