March 2018

EUROPE MONTHLY REPORT© UNHCR/Paul Wu© Council of Europe/ G. Mannazzu

Recipients of the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees, Sounion, Greece.

TRENDS AND KEY FIGURES

Mediterranean

16,640505

In March, just over 4,400 refugees and migrants entered Europe via Italy,
Greece and Spain. Arrivals to Greece (1,250 versus 2,400) increased byalmost 100% while arrivals through routes to Spain (1,500 versus 1,300)
and Italy (1,050 versus 1,060) remained consistent with the previous
month. In the first three months of the year some 16,640 refugees andmigrants arrived to Europe by sea compared to nearly 31,000 that arrived
in the same period last year, marking a 106% decrease.
In Italy, the number of refugees and migrants arriving in March by sea(almost 1,050) was the lowest via the Central Mediterranean route sincelate 2013. Of those crossing the sea in March, approximately 76% departed
from Libya, compared to 56% in February. While departure numbers
from the Libyan coast are lower in general, the Libyan Coast Guard hasreported rescuing or intercepting over 700 persons in February. As of theend of March, arrival numbers by sea to Italy are 74% lower than in the first
three months of 2017. The primary nationalities that have arrived by sea inMarch are Eritreans (23%), Tunisians (12%), and Sudanese (10%).
In March, over 2,400 refugees and migrants arrived by sea in Greece
compared to over 1,500 whom arrived in the same period in 2017 (a 60%
increase). Persons arriving in Greece in March mainly originated from the
Syrian Arab Republic (43%), Iraq (26%) and Afghanistan (9%). As of theend of March, sea arrivals to Greece have increased 33% compared tothe same quarter in 2017. In addition, the number of persons rescued
or intercepted after departing from the Turkish coastline has more thandoubled this year compared to the same period last year. At the landborder, there were over 1,480 recorded arrivals to Evros in March, asignificant increase in comparison to the 530 arrivals in February and the
UNHCR 20-April-2018

data.unhcr.org/mediterranean as of 31 March 2018.
Includes land and sea arrivals in the Mediterranean and to the Canary Islands
3
Source: Eurostats. Partial data for Jan-Feb 201812arrivals in 2018 1

estimated dead/missing in 2018 1

Greece

5,330

1,633
Jan

1,256
Feb

2,441
Mar

Italy

6,300

4,189
Jan

Spain

5,000
1,518
Feb

1,300
Mar

1,049
Mar

Cyprus

2

2,182
Jan

1,058
Feb

0
Jan

12
Feb

12
0
Mar

New asylum applications in EU+ countries ³

67,740 applications in 2018

650,000 applications in 2017
1,236,370 applications in 2016
1,325,565 applications in 2015

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EUROPE Monthly Report

34,323

fromRelocated in total 44

Source: European Commission, as of 26 March 2018.

fromGreece

1,577

Italy

12,32921,994(31% of 39,600)(33% of 66,400)

560 arrivals in January and almost seven times more thanthe 223 arrivals of the same period in 2017.
In Spain, nearly 1,300 people crossed the land and sea
borders from North Africa in March, an increase of 8%
compared to March 2017, when unusually high numbers(over 1,600) crossed the land borders. So far, the primarycountries of origin of arrivals are Guinea, the Syrian Arab
Republic and Cote d’Ivoire. So far in 2018, almost 130
people are believed to have died while crossing the sea toSpain, making this the second most deadly route after thesea route to Italy.

Returns EU-Turkey statement 12

12

Source: Ministry of Citizen Protection, Greece as of 26 March 2018.

Relocation: According to the European Commission (EC),just over 3,300 asylum-seekers have been relocated from
Greece and Italy as of 26 March 2018, including 21,994 from
Greece (out of 66,400 originally foreseen, 33% of the total)and 12,329 from Italy (out of 39,600 originally foreseen, 31%of the total). The pending transfers of asylum-seekers from
Greece to other EU Member States under the relocation
scheme concluded with 22,000 people relocated by April
2018.

Resettlement: So far in 2018, 3,349 persons have been
resettled to Europe. Almost 6,214 refugees were submitted
by UNHCR for resettlement to 25 countries in Europe in thefirst quarter of 2018.
Dead and Missing: As of 31 March, over 480 people havedied or gone missing while trying to reach Europe by sea
which is a 44% decrease compared to the number of deaths
between January and March in 2017 (870). On 17 March, 16
people drowned when their boat capsized off Agathonisi,
the first recorded deaths on this route this year and thehighest number in a single incident since April last year.
So far this year, at least 15 refugees or migrants have diedalong land routes in Europe or at Europe’s borders.
MEDITERRANEAN ARRIVALS - JANUARY 2017 to MARCH 2018
23,52425,00020,00015,00010,000

Italy

9,070

5,979
5,000

0

2,141

GreeceFeb-17Mar-17

Apr-17Spain
May-17

Jun-17

Jul-17Aug-17

Sep-17Oct-17OTHER SITUATIONS IN EUROPE

3.9 million

TurkeyUkraineRefugees and asylum seekers 5

Syrian Arab Republic
Afghanistan
Iraq
Iran
5

Source: UNHCR as of 31 March 2018

UNHCR 20-April-2018

3,567,000
170,000
146,000
50,000Nov-17

Dec-17Jan-18

Feb-18Mar-18

1.8 million

Internally Displaced Persons 6 and Conflict Affected Persons7

Refugees:
Asylum seekers:
Stateless persons:

8
9
10

3,257
5,525
35,294

Residing more permanently in government-controlled areas (GCA).
Estimated number of conflict-affected people living along the line of contact in government-controlledareas (GCA) and non-government controlled areas (NGCA).
8UNHCR, State Migration Service of Ukraine as of 30/06/2017
9
UNHCR as of 14/04/201810
State Migration Service of Ukraine as of 30/06/2017
6

7

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EUROPE Monthly Report

KEY
KEYDEVELOPMENTS
DEVELOPMENTSUNHCR Ukraine continued the implementation of its winterization assistance plan with 978 households
each receiving three tons of coal in
January.

The Council of Europe Pilot project on the European Qualifications
Passport for Refugees launched on
27 March its second phase with thesupport of UNHCR.

5
4Montenegro: New Law on Foreigners
which took effect as of 3 March includes many positive improvements.

Libyan Coast Guard and Spanish NGO
Proactiva Open Arms disputing over
who would conduct the rescue of aboat carrying some 80 persons.

3
1

2
Serbia: On 22 March, the Serbian
Parliament adopted a new Law on
Asylum and Temporary Protection

Includes Serbia and Kosovo (S/RES/1244 (1999))
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

ARMENIA: The Administrative Court of Appeal announced
that it has prioritized asylum cases to be processed by a
new panel of judges for March 2018. These cases wereoriginally scheduled for review in 2019. The positive advancement of these cases follows recommendations madeby UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations,George Okoth-Obbo, during his visit in December 2017.
AUSTRIA: European Council President Donald Tusk arrived
in Vienna on 13 March for talks on Austria’s upcoming EU
presidency. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has announced
that asylum and migration will be one of the priorities ofAustria’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
He was quoted in media saying that he did not believe ina “forced distribution mechanism” amongst Member States
and that Europe should shift its focus towards securing external borders. UNHCR recalls the recommendations previously shared in its Better Protecting Refugees in the EU
and Globally.
FRANCE: Following the presentation of the new immigration and asylum bill in late February, on 13 March, UNHCR
addressed the French parliament on the draft law. The
hearing focused on legal, social and medical assistance,
accommodation, detention and the appeals process. UNHCR reaffirmed its positions initially communicated to the
French government in December 2017 and made public on
5 March 2018, calling for the adoption of amendments.

“Designing digital standards for Education in crisis”. Maren
Kroeger from UNHCR Education team addressed the “Closing inequalities and gender divides” plenary session on 27
March.

GERMANY: UNHCR’s Deputy High Commissioner, Kelly Clements, visited a reception and transit centre for refugees and asylum-seekers in Manching on 22 March.
During her visit, she spoke with staff at the centre as well
as refugees. The centre in Manching serves as a blueprint for a centralized accommodation and asylum facility to be rolled-out country-wide by the new government.
Details in the implementation of the centralized processing are yet to be confirmed. UNHCR values Germany’s
dedication to supporting refugees and stands ready toassist in any capacity building needs for such centres.

Starting 26 March, UNHCR participated in UNESCO’s Mobile Learning Week at UNESCO Headquarters promoting
education for refugees. Students enrolled through the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI
programme) participated in the weeklong event. DAFI enables young refugees to unlock their potential by addressing key barriers to higher education. Alongside Learning
Equality and Google, UNHCR co-organized a workshop on
UNHCR 20-April-20183

EUROPE Monthly Report

GREECE: There was a notable increase of arrivals both bysea (2,512 in March 2018 versus 1,526 in March 2017) andland (1,486 in March 2018 versus 223 in March 2017) in Marchfurther straining hosting facilities already at maximum capacity. In Evros for instance, increased arrivals have heavily
impacted the limited capacity of Fylakio Registration and
Identification Centre (RIC). Some 1,040 people, including
families with young children, are estimated to be in police
detention in surrounding areas awaiting transfer to the RIC,
already above full capacity. UNHCR is closely monitoring
the developments and is advocating for urgent response
measures, particularly for persons with specific needs.
Due to the limited accommodation capacity in the mainland,
the pace of transfers from the islands reduced in March with
622 transfers to State-run sites and UNHCR accommodation, out of 3,600 transfers so far this year. The populationon the islands increased by 1,000 to 12,000 in March amid
the slowdown in transfers and the higher number of arrivals.
Recent developments in funding allocation for NGO-provided shelters to unaccompanied and separated children(UASC) have come under serious strain. The services are at
risk of being reduced by half of the already limited placesin age-appropriate shelters for the 3,000 UASC present in
Greece. UNHCR has called on authorities to find an immediate solution to ensure dignified and safe shelter of all UASC
in the country.
According to the Racist Violence Recording Network(RVRN) report of 2017 released in March, over 100 incidents
were reported last year by 42 organizations. In 34 incidents,
the victims were refugees or migrants who were reportedly
targeted on grounds of ethnic origin, religion, colour and/or
gender identity, while the report notes that the authorities
have developed clearer and faster reactions. The Network
called on the government to further intensify its efforts toprotect people against racist, homophobic and transphobic
violence. In 2011, UNHCR founded the Racist Violence Recording Network along with the National Commission for
Human Rights and continues to be an active member together with many NGOs.

MONTENEGRO: Within the context of the new Law on
Foreigners effective as of 03 March, a statelessness determination procedure (SDP) was included among new policies of the law. Many improvements have been included in
the law, such as recognizing statelessness as a legal status
and allowing persons granted such status the right to apply
for a statelessness passport, a temporary residence permit
2

UNHCR 20-April-2018

THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION: On 28 March, Jean-NoelWetterwald, interim UNHCR Representative in Russia, visited the Russian International Affairs Council. A meeting with
Mr. Andrey Kortunov, Director General of Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) was held where discussions
focused on cooperation between UNHCR and RIAC on international migration and refugee issues in the context ofregional situations.
SERBIA: On 22 March, the Serbian Parliament adopted a new Law on Asylum and Temporary Protection,
as well as new laws on Foreigners and on the Protection ofState Borders. All three new laws will be relevant for managing the refugee and migration situation. The new Asylum
Law, for example, aligns Serbian legislation to international
and EU standards by including an improved refugee definition and enhanced provisions for unaccompanied and separated asylum-seeking children. It took effect on 26 March,where-after authorities are preparing its implementation foranother 60 days.
3

SPAIN: UNHCR has issued protection guidelines on applications by Venezuelans in need of international protection
on 15 March. In 2017, Venezuelans represented the fourthlargest number of asylum applications in Spain.
STRASBOURG: The Council of Europe Pilot projecton the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees
launched on 27 March its second phase with the supportof UNHCR. Following a successful first phase in 2017, theCouncil of Europe launched in Greece a new phase of the
project for the 2018-2020 period. This new phase involves
4© Council of Europe/ G. Mannazzu

ITALY: In March 2018, an incident occurred in international waters between the Libyan Coast Guard andSpanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms disputing over who
would conduct the rescue of a boat carrying some 80 persons. Local authorities in Italy have launched an investigation into the case and proceedings against the NGO are
currently underway. UNHCR reiterates that saving lives
remains a priority as crossings in the Mediterranean Sea
are dangerous, making rescue-at-sea operations all themore critical. It is important to ensure effective coordination
among all actors, including NGOs, during search and rescue (SAR) operations and disembarkation of those rescued
to a place of safety without delay.
1

as well as access to employment. The relevant by-laws are
expected to be adopted within six months from the law entering into force. UNHCR welcomes the new law and continues to encourage effective solutions for stateless persons.

the original partners from Greece, Italy, Norway and theUnited Kingdom, widening the scope to new actors participating from Armenia, Canada, France, Germany and theNetherlands. “The European Qualifications Passport for
Refugees is a credible assessment that could be used byhigher education institutions, employers and other integration stakeholders to facilitate and accelerate its holders’integration into the host community”, said Roland-François
Weil, UNHCR Representative to the European Institutions in
Strasbourg.

4EUROPE Monthly Report
On 22 March 2018, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights
Commissioner submitted to the ECtHR updated written
observations in the case of ND and NT v. Spain (Grand
Chamber hearing on 18 April 2018) concerning push-backs
from Melilla to Morocco. The Commissioner underlinedthat returns take place outside of any formal procedure
and without identification and assessment of the persons
concerned. He stated that this practice prevents people
from effectively exercising their right to seek international
protection.

legal aid so that refugees who have lost everything can afford to navigate the complicated process of reuniting withseparated family members.

THE UNITED KINGDOM: Angus MacNeil’s Private Member’s Bill on refugee family reunification was debated in theHouse of Commons on Friday 16 March and passed its firststage of scrutiny, moving it one step closer to becoming alaw. MPs voted in favour of the bill which would allow a wider range of family members to be reunited with refugees in
the UK. This would provide young refugees a better chance
to be reunited with their parents. It would also reintroduce

The Families Together campaign is supported by many
famous faces including actors Patrick Stewart and Peter
Capaldi who have called on their MPs to also support theRefugees Family Reunion Bill. A coalition of organisations,
including UNHCR, the Refugee Council, Amnesty International, the British Red Cross, Oxfam, and Student Action for
Refugees (STAR) have come together in backing the bill.

Reacting to the news, Yohannes, a 19-year-old refugee from
Eritrea who is living in the UK, said: ‘I’m so happy that MPs
are helping to bring refugee families together. I came to
the UK as a child refugee and three years on, I’m still living
here alone, while my sister is stuck in a camp in Ethiopia on
her own...”.

EU RELATED DEVELOPMENTS
On 05 and 06 March, UNHCR’s High Commissioner had
meetings with EU counterparts, including Commissioner
for Civil Protection, Humanitarian Aid and Operations Stylianides Christos Stylianides, High Representative/Vice
President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for Home
Affairs, Migration and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos.
Among other issues, they discussed issues relating to
Greece, Libya, Myanmar, Syria, Venezuela, and the emergency transit mechanism in Niger.
On 08-09 March, a Justice and Home Affairs council took
place in Brussels, Belgium. Ministers notably discussed thestate of play and next steps regarding migration. An overview of key data for 2017 can be found here, while UNHCR’s
recommendations for EU asylum and migration policies canbe found here.

UNHCR 20-April-2018

On 22-23 March, a European Council took place in Brussels,
Belgium. In that context, EU Leaders adopted conclusions
on the Western Balkans, noting that migration will be on theagenda of the 17 May 2018 EU-Western Balkans Summit.
UNHCR had made recommendations to the Bulgarian Presidency on enhancing protection in the Western Balkans aspart of the pre-accession process.
On 26 March, an informal EU-Turkey high-level meeting
took place in Varna, Bulgaria. The meeting was attended byPresident of the European Council Donald Tusk, Presidentof the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Topics discussed included the
EU-Turkey partnership on migration and refugee support.

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EUROPE Monthly Report

FEATURE ON UKRAINEUNHCR Assistant High Commissioner calls for improved
access to pensions for the internally displaced in Ukraine
On 23 March, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner (AHC)for Operations Mr. George Okoth-Obbo, and the Regional Director for Europe, Ms. Pascale Moreau, concluded a
week-long visit to Ukraine, where four years of conflict havedisplaced an estimated 1.5 million people. UNHCR AssistantHigh Commissioner for Operations Mr. George Okoth-Obbo has called for enhanced actions to address the plight ofconflict-affected persons and to secure their rights, including access to pensions and freedom of movement.
Accompanied by the UNHCR Representative in Ukraine,
Mr. Pablo Mateu, they travelled to eastern Ukraine to observe UNHCR’s activities on the ground and meet withpeople affected by the conflict. At the meeting in a community centre run by UNHCR partner Slavic Heart, people highlighted the difficulties they face in accessing theirpensions, the risk of being unable to pay for and losing

5

their accommodation at the centres at which they are staying, poor living conditions at the centres and their hopesof being able to exercise voting rights in local elections.
Since the conflict started in 2014, people living in non-government controlled areas (NGCA) must travel to and register as IDPs in government controlled areas to undergo regular verification procedures in order to be able to receive
their pensions. This travel involves passing back and forththrough one of five checkpoints available at the “contactline”, a particularly trying experience for the elderly andpeople living with disabilities. After witnessing the longqueues in the extreme cold and snow at Maiorsk checkpoint, Mr. Okoth-Obbo said: “These people are traumatized
twice. Firstly, by the experience of the ongoing conflict and,secondly, by the complex requirements and procedures
which make it very difficult for people to receive their legitimate pensions and social security payments or even be atrisk of losing them.” Full press release here.
UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Mr. George Okoth-Obbo visits
Maiorsk checkpoint© UNHCR/Hugo Reichenberger

Watch the latest video stories produced by UNHCR’s Michelle Hoffman and Bela Szandelszky who visited Eastern Ukraine in late March
Ukraine: Cut off on the Donetsk conflict line
Far from the headlines, 4.4 million people in eastern Ukraine
continue to live in the grips of an armed conflict that has
divided their region, restricting freedom of movement anddisplacing many.

Ukrainian pensioners struggle to cross the conflict line
Since armed conflict divided eastern Ukraine back in 2014,
almost 1.3 million pensioners have found themselves caught
in the middle, living in territory now outside of government
control but dependent on state institutions for their hardearned retirement pensions. To try to maintain access to
those funds, the old and frail are forced repeatedly to makea difficult, costly and dangerous journey across the “line ofcontact”.
UNHCR 20-April-2018

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EUROPE Monthly Report

Pensioners caught up in Ukraine conflict struggle to survive
By Kate Bond in Starhonativka, Ukraine | 23 March 2018
Shelling, landmines and long queues are among the hazards facing elderly residents as they try to collect their pensions.
Svetlana Shuko worked for decades in the local coal plant,
earning a pension she hoped would see her through retirement. Now, with armed conflict dividing Ukraine, eightmonths have passed since the 78-year-old received any
cash. Living with cancer and barely able to leave her homein the battered town of Starhonativka, it is only thanks toneighbours and the non-governmental organization Proliska that the pensioner receives help.

© UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova

To receive her pension, Svetlana must visit an officein the town every three months to prove her identity and go through verification procedures as an internally displaced person (IDP) with state authorities. She
finds the journey difficult because of her poor health,so avoids the once-a-day overcrowded buses andhires a taxi instead. “I go in the back seat, propped up
with pillows. It is really difficult for me to keep going.”
Svetlana is one of nearly 1 million elderly IDPs living ineastern Ukraine who struggle to receive their pensions.
Many are too frail or isolated to make the journey to beverified. For those who do, there is the constant worryof shelling, landmines and long queues in freezing temperatures. With a terminal illness and children who fled to
Russia after the conflict began, Svetlana is among those
who rely on Proliska, a partner of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. They help her to obtain medical treatment,
heat her home, cook, clean, and be dealt with quickly at
the pension office so that she does not need to endure
an agonizing wait. Last year, the NGO with other partners
helped UNHCR to provide 60,000 people with winter assistance.

Svetlana Shuko can barely leave her bed and struggles to receive her pension.

Life is a daily battle for families in Ukraine conflict zone
By Kate Bond in Mariinka, Ukraine | 27 March 2018
It was just an ordinary day for Liuba and her son Misha in Mariinka, a town devastated by the conflict in eastern
Ukraine.

UNHCR 20-April-2018© UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova

They were used to the rattle of machine guns as they
prepared breakfast. So when they fell silent, 10-year-old
Misha ran to his grandmother’s house nearby. Then ashell exploded without warning, Liuba recalls. “Suddenly,
I couldn’t see him anymore. But I heard this sound andsomeone screaming ‘mama’.” The first thing she remembers seeing was blood pouring from his head, where fragments from the shell had lodged. With the nearest hospital
30 kilometres away and hostilities in Mariinka intensifying,
Liuba knew there was little hope of an ambulance. Fortunately, a relative from a nearby town was able to drive
them there and Misha survived. Now Liuba says gunfire
still scares her but silence frightens her more. Liuba still
lives with the trauma of how close her son came to losing
his life. Since his ordeal, their house has been shelled fourtimes and young Misha dreams of moving away. Liubaand Misha are among more than 600,000 people caught
inside the conflict zone. Shelling and landmines haveturned thousands of lives upside down, making it difficult
to collect benefits, food and medicine, or find jobs.

Misha holds a piece of shrapnel that was removed from his head.

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EUROPE Monthly Report

REFUGEE STORIES
Revolutionary housing project brings Dutch Afghan lost boys provide a bridge in Creteyouth together with refugees
between nations
By Josie Le Blond in Amsterdam, the Netherlands By Leo Dobbs in Heraklion, Greece
23 March 2018
26 March 2018
Adrian Laidley grew up fearing for his life. As a gay man
in Jamaica, he had to hide his sexuality to protect himself against violent attacks. Now a refugee in the Netherlands, he has found safety and personal freedom aspart of a revolutionary housing project for refugees andDutch youth.

© UNHCR/Chris de Bode

Terrified of being cast out by his family, Adrian concealed
his sexual orientation for as long as he could. But hecouldn’t hide forever. Early in 2015, Adrian left his country
hoping to find safety in Europe.
Just weeks after he arrived in Netherlands, an acquaintance outed Adrian to his family and friends back in Jamaica. His two brothers and most of his friends disowned
him, while his mother and sister warned him never to returnhome. “I felt totally rejected,” said Adrian. “If I had still been
in Jamaica, I’d probably be dead.”© UNHCR /S.Magennis

UNHCR 20-April-2018

The 22-year-old, Ali Sher Kashimi is an ethnic Hazara fromAfghanistan, and a refugee who has spent the last decadein Crete. His role is vital: he is the interpreter who can help
navigate language challenges and make daily life of asylum-seekers easier. “All the people of concern need interpreters,” explains Ali, who is fluent in Urdu, Farsi, Dari andof course Greek. “You’re the bridge connecting two nations,” adds fellow interpreter and Hazara ethnic, Habibala. The two friends interpret for about 80 of the more than
600 people who have been provided with apartment places and support in Crete under UNHCR’s ESTIA accommodation and cash assistance programme, which has helped
tens of thousands of people.
The EU-funded accommodation scheme did not exist when
Ali and Habibala arrived in Greece in 2008. As youngsters,
they were taken to Anogia, the first shelter for unaccompanied children in Crete which opened in 2001. Now, they are
involved in every step of the process to welcome asylum
seekers, starting with arrival. The Heraklion Development
Agency (HDA), which is implementing the scheme in Heraklion, Sitia and Chania employs 11 interpreters, including
Ali and Habibala, working in Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Sorani andUrdu.
Ali explains where to shop, how to use public transport,
how to get medical services and enrol children at school.
He helps them to register their address and active cash
cards. Social orientation is important and Ali advising other asylum-seekers on how to function in a new community
and adapt to their hosts’ culture and lifestyle.
The young man is proud of his work. “I feel that I am doing
something important. I’m helping people to rebuild theirlives and that gives me great satisfaction.”© UNHCR/Markel Redondo

Adrian was granted asylum and was given a studio apartment at Startblok, a new municipality-run housing projectin the outskirts of Amsterdam. Startblok consists of nine
blocks of shipping containers stacked on a former sports
ground were transformed into affordable housing for 565
residents; half of them refugees, the other half young people from the Netherlands. Since Adrian moved in there andsuddenly found he was no longer isolated. Taking advantage of regular events, classes and meetups held in Startblok’s clubhouse, Adrian soon built a group of friends fromall over the world. Adrian is now studying and working
part-time for Startblok, giving tours to interested visitorsfrom all over the world. Living at Startblok is about morethan integrating, finding friends and building a network. It’sa chance for Adrian at last to live openly, free of fear.

Ali Sher Kashimi arrived in Greece as a young boy. Now,he helps other asylum seekers by interpreting for them.

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UNHCR and British School in Baku support football tournament for refugee and local
schoolboys
A three-day mini-football tournament with participation ofeight teams of local and refugee teenagers came to final
at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium in the capital of
Azerbaijan on 15 March. The two mini-football teams, consisted of teenage boys from Afghan, Chechen and Iranianrefugee communities residing in Baku, undertook the playoffs along with the children from public secondary schools,
as well as from the private ones like the British School in
Baku and the Modern School.
The tournament was initiated and financed by the British
School Baku with the support of the UNHCR Representationin Azerbaijan and the Baku Education Department. “UNHCR
highly values this initiative which brings together refugee
children with the local community and fosters an environment of tolerance, understanding and solidarity” said Furio
De Angelis, UNHCR Country Representative.

UNHCR 20-April-2018

Winners of the football tournament supported by the UNHCR, the British
School Baku and the Baku Education Department, 14 March 2018 (UNHCR’s
photo).

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EUROPE Monthly Report

Key Documents from the Web Portal

Desperate Journeys - January
2017 to March 2018

Refugee and Migrant Children in
Europe - September 2017

Resettlement to Europe
December 2017

Overview of trends of movements by refugees and migrants
to and through Europe in 2017

Accompanied,unaccompaniedand separated refugee and migrant children in Europe.

Rented housing scheme for vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees
in Greece.

GREECE Cash AssistanceMarch 2018

UNHCR Northern Europe
Country Factsheets

In March, 41,803 eligible refugees
and asylum-seekers received
cash assistance in Greece, in 92
locations.

Key data on persons of concern inNorthern Europe

Summary of population statistics
including asylum applications andobserved pushbacks.

Mediterranean: Dead and Missing at Sea - March 2018

Italy Weekly Snapshot - 15 April
2018

Returns from Greece to Turkey
March 2018

Number of dead and missing in
the Mediterranean by route.

Summary of key statistics of recent
arrivals to Italy as well as asylum
applications and relocation.

Returns from Greece to Turkey (under EU-Turkey statement) as of 31
March 2018

Serbia Snapshot March 2018

Sign up for the latest information products.
UNHCR 20-April-201810

EUROPE Monthly Report

TIMELINE OVERVIEW
20 March 2016

2018

2017

2016

Start of theE U - Tu r k e yStatement .

03 April 2016
Greece implemented a new law highlighting
the creation of the Reception and
Identification Service, restructuring of the
Asylum Service, the creation of an Appeals’
Authority, and the creation of new Regional
Asylum Offices.

04 April 201606 April 2016

First returns take place under
the EU-Turkey Statement: 202
people returned to Turkey
from Greece.

The European Commission (EC) published
Communication on reforms to Common
European Asylum System (CEAS).

07 April 201627 April 201604 May 201618 May 2016

Turkish government amended
theTemporaryProtection
Regulation regarding access totemporary protection for Syrian
nationals who irregularly travel toEurope and who are returned toTurkey from Greek islands.

Turkeyamendedlabour legislation to
grant those holding
subsidiary
protection
work permits.

The EC released Proposals to reform the
CEAS, with proposals to reform the Dublin
Regulation, the EURODAC system and toturn the European Asylum Support Office
into an European Union Agency for Asylum.

The Turkish President approved thelegislative framework regarding the
EU-Turkey Statement with regards to
the readmission of people from Greece.

13 July 2016

20 September 201606 October 201608 December 2016

The EC released:• Its proposals to recast the
Asylum Procedures Directive,
recast the Qualification Directive
and amend the Reception
Conditions Directive.
• Its proposal on an EU
Resettlement Framework.

Leader’s Summit on Refugees
was held in New York bringing
together countries andinternational organisations,and announced pledges toincrease efforts in support ofrefugees.

The EC officially launched theEuropean Border and Coast
Guard (EBCG) Agency.

The EC released a recommendation
to Member States to gradually resume
Dublin transfers to Greece under certain circumstances.

31 December 201619 January 201702 February 201714 February 2017362,376 refugees and migrants
reached Europe in 2016 and
5,096 went dead or missing.

UNHCR, IOM and 72 other partners
launched the Regional Refugee andMigrant Response Plan to help respond to the situation of refugees
and migrants in Europe in 2017.

UNHCR and IOM released a jointstatement on addressing migration
and refugee movements along theCentral Mediterranean route.

UNHCR calls for concrete measures to be adopted by the Greek
authorities, the EU and its Member
States to ensure wwadequate care,
support and solutions for the women, men and children seeking asylum in Greece.

Informal European Council meeting.
EU Leaders adopt the Malta Declaration on “addressing the Central Mediterranean route”.

12 April 201707 March 201709-10 March 2017

25 March 201710 April 2017

UNHCR is deeply concerned ata new law which has been voted
at the Hungarian Parliament andwhich foresees the mandatory
detention of all asylum seekers,
including many children, for theentire length of the asylum procedure.

European Council
Migration on the agenda.

Informal European Council
meeting. EU Leaders adopt
the Rome Declaration. Migration and asylum included in
the “safe and secure Europe”
overarching area of work.

UNHCR urges suspension oftransfers of asylum-seekers
to Hungary under the Dublin
Regulation.

The EC releases the communication on the protection ofchildren in migration.
UNICEF and UNHCR welcome
EU policy to protect migrant
and refugee children.

12 May 201718 May 201713 June 201715 June 2017

On 12 May, Frontex’ Consultative
Forum on Fundamental Rights,
which UNHCR is co-chairing,
published its Annual Report

On 18 May, a Justice and Home Affairs
Council took place in Brussels. Amongother issues, EU Home Affairs Ministers discussed the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS),
focusing on the issues of responsibility and solidarity.

The European Commission (EC)released i) the 13th Report on
Relocation and Resettlement; ii)
the 6th Report on the EU-Turkey
Statement; iii) the 4th Report on
the Migration Partnership Framework and iv) the 4th Report on
the European Border and Coast
Guard.

The EC launched infringement procedures
regarding the relocation programme against
Hungary, Poland and theCzech Republic.

04 July 2017
the EC released an Action
Plan on Measures to Support Italy, Reduce Pressure
along the Central Mediterranean and Increase
Solidarity.

26 July 201726 September 201704 November 201722 December 201725-26 January 2018

The EC moved to the next
step of infringements procedures against Hungary, Poland
and the Czech Republic fornon-compliance with the relocation decisions

Marks the two-year plan of the
EU Relocation scheme

November 4, 2017 marked thethird anniversary of UNHCR’s#IBelong Campaign to End
Statelessness.

The first evacuation from Libya to
Italy took place on 22 December,
2017, where 162 asylum-seekers
were supported by UNHCR and
Italian authorities.

An informal Justice and Home
Affairs (JHA) Council took placein Sofia, Bulgaria and Ministersof Home Affairs discussed theglobal aspects of migration andrefugee issues.

UNHCR 20-April-201811