AYS Daily Digest 09/01/20: New Report on actors and situation in Syria
By: Are You Syrious
Tags: Migration, Denmark, Digest, Europe, Refugees

GENERAL

Frotex published a press release stating that,

“the number of irregular border crossings detected on the European Union’s external borders last year fell to the lowest level since 2013 due to a drop in the number of people reaching European shores via the Central and Western Mediterranean routes.”

We know that these numbers are a result only of push-backs at sea; detention centers in horrendous conditions in Libya, run by war lords and financed by EU; the horrible situation in the camps in Greece; and violent push-backs along the Balkan boarders.

Find the full press release here:

SEARCH AND RESCUE AT SEA

The Sea Watch 3 rescued 77 people in two operations in the last two days.

Alarmphone was further informed yesterday evening about a boat in distress with 41 people, amongst them many children. The boat was located within the Maltese SAR zone. Alarm phone informed the Maltese authorities. The people on board were desperate, Alarmphone reports. Water was entering the boat. “The sea is so big, and our boat is too small, we are afraid to die.” they said. No updates yet on their situation.

Aegean Boat Report reported of one boat that landed on Lesvos despite bad weather conditions, carrying 57 people.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Bihać

A month after the closure of Vucjak, members of the Red Cross Mobile Teams have actively continued their work on serving migrants in Bihac, but also at all access locations leading to the city. Mobile Teams also work on a daily basis to serve the migrants in the locations where they reside, out of the official IOM-ran camps.

The tasks of the Mobile Team are providing food packages, distributing clothing and footwear, and providing first aid, as well as registering migrants at locations in the surrounding area.

Tuzla

In Tuzla, a new refugee center Man Motel opened its door to 62, soon to be 100 people. It is operated by a local NGO Pomozi.ba, and it serves as a stop-and-go location for people on the move, where they can rest, eat and wash.

“What made us very happy about the migrants housed at the Man Motel in Tuzla is their attitude regarding the accommodation itself. The migrants took their own initiative in cleaning the premises, preparing food, washing dishes, laundry, etc.”

The center is supposed to support the most vulnerable people amongst the hundreds that are sleeping raw and in squats in and around Tuzla. It provides a place to rest, get treated, recover and have a warm shower for sick and vulnerable men.

The center is in need of support, be it hands-on or financially. See there facebook page: Promozi.ba.

Sarajevo

We have previously reported about the ongoing efforts of the local groups, students and foreign NGOs in the city collecting and distributing clothes, food and other basic necessities to the people stranded outside, in the streets or some provisional accommodation. They need support, primarily in funds, but also men’s clothes, warm shoes, blankets, sleeping bags and such. If you have something and can’t decide what to do or can’t find direct contacts, tell us about it and we will connect you to those who really need it at the moment.

For update on the situation in Velika Kladuša, please read our yesterday’s edition of the News Digest.

CROATIA

In Croatia, AYS Free Shop and integration centre continues activities in the centre and outside of it. Activities include supporting the families who are asylum seekers staying in the reception centre, but also those who are asylees, as well as people outside the system for different reasons. Support is always welcome, even in the smallest amounts such as always-needed hygiene products (shampoo, detergent, washing powder, soaps, shower gels, tooth paste, etc.). Let us know if you have any other ideas and wish to help.

DENMARK

Following the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on the situation of Danish Detention Centers for Asylum Seekers (see digest 07.1.2020), activist Lene Kjær has send a letter to the Danish ministry of justice and the Danish ministry of Immigration. Lena Kjær has deep first-hand knowledge of many of the inmates and the conditions at Ellebæk. The two centers Ellebæk and Nykobing Falster have been visited in Spring 2019 a part of the investigations for the Country Report on Denmark. The report condems the treatment of asylum seekers as criminal, verbal abuse and one case of excessive use of force, restricted access to open air (30 min a day for female detainees) and other activities, like the denial of access to the detainees mobile phones of basic internet access and much more.