1500 to 2000 migrants stranded in Serbia as Balkan route closes

Chief of UNHCR's office in Serbia Friedrich Schodder said on Wednesday that 1,500 to 2,000 refugees are have been stranded in Serbian shelters after the closure of the Balkan route at midnight.

In a statement for Tanjug, Serbian news agency, Schodder said that the remaining refugees from Syria and other countries in Serbia await a long term process in which they can either obtain the refugee status in Serbia, return to their country of origin, or apply for the program of joining families who got separated on the road.

Serbia introduced a new regime Tuesday following the step of Slovenia that only those migrants with valid passports and visas can enter the territory of Serbia. The new measure will take effect from Wednesday, according to Serbian interior ministry.

Office of the UNHCR in Belgrade confirmed to Xinhua that around 600 refugees are currently sheltered in a collection centre in southern city of Presevo, while others are in North-West town of Sid.

Schodder added that authorities expect increased attempts of smuggling and other criminal activities after the closure of the Balkan route.

Rados Djurovic, director of the centre for assistance and protection of asylum-seekers explained that countries on the Balkan route will no longer help refugees and transport them across their territory. Only refugees with passports and entry visas will be allowed to enter any given country.

He said that refugees will continue to cross borders illegally with the help of smugglers, but that there will no longer be "an exodus scenario".

Aleksandar Vulin, Serbian minister in charge of migrations confirmed on Wednesday said at a press conference in Belgrade that the country will not allow further irregular entry to migrants and that it will respect domestic and international laws when it comes to migrants who remained on Serbian territory, and that they will be treated in a humane way.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said in Kovacica on Wednesday that "a minimal number" of refugees remained in Serbia after the route was closed and Serbia will both protect their human rights as well as its national interests.

"We act in accordance with actions of Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. We plan to act that way in the future, but we will of course treat minimum number of refugees located on our territory in accordance with international and humanitarian law, showing solidarity and our humane face, "said Vucic in a statement to journalists.

He repeated on this occasion that Serbia is waiting for the final and comprehensive EU solution for the migrant issue, but such a solution was not offered so far and Serbia is not planning to become "a collection centre". Endit