GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET
1.1  PROGRAMME TITLE / Emergency Relief for Migrants in Serbia
1.2  PROGRAMME HOLDER / Name and address of applicant
Caritas Serbia, Visegradska 23, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Director: Rev. Vladislav Varga
EA contact person:: Darko Tot
Communication officer contact:
Email:
Telephone: 00 381 11 3610 438
Mobile: 00 381 63 324 628
Skype: darko.tot2
1.3  EA NUMBER / EA24/2015 – SERBIA
1.4  PROGRAMME
START & END DATES / Start date: 01.09.2015.
End date: 31.12.2015.
Duration: implementation phase of 4 months and reporting phase: 2 months
1.5  REPORTING SCHEDULE / 1st report: 31.10.2015.
2nd report: 31.12.2015.
Final Report 28.02.2016
1.6  TOTAL BUDGET / Total planned: 828.240 euros
Local currency: approx. 98.400.000,00 RSD
Contributions already secured and by whom:
Caritas Germany and German Foreign Ministry 220.000,00 EURO
CRS 100.000,00 EURO
Trocaire 50.000,00 EURO
Caritas Croatia 10.000,00 EURO
Caritas Slovenia 5.000,00 EURO
Private donations 10.000 EURO
Euros: 395.000,00 EURO
Local currency: 47.400.000,00 RSD
Exchange rate used and source: 120 RSD/EUR (official exchange rate of National Bank of Serbia – slight daily variations possible)
1.7  GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS / District(s)/province/city (diocese/parish): Southern Serbia (Preshevo municipality), Northern Serbia (Kanjiza and Subotica), depending on situation development also Belgrade
1.8  NAME(S) OF IMPLEMENTING PARTNER(S) / National Caritas implementing: Caritas Serbia
Dioceses or others Implementing:
Caritas of Belgrade Archbishopric, Caritas Subotica bishopric
1.9  BENEFICIARIES / Number of direct beneficiaries: 100.000
Number of indirect beneficiaries: 55.000
1.10 GOAL / To reduce sufferings of migrant population during their stay in Serbia by providing them food, hygiene, sleeping bags, rain coats, health services and psychosocial support.
1.11 COMPULSORY DOCUMENTS
TO BE ATTACHED / Annex 1) Logframe
Annex 2) Budget
Annex 3) Gantt chart
Annex 4) Organigram
1.12 RECOMMENDED FURTHER DOCUMENTATION TO BE PROVIDED / a) Detailed assessment report
c) Security plan
1.13 BANK DETAILS:
PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR EACH EA
A SEPARATE BANK ACCOUNT NEEDS
TO BE OPENED / Name of Bank ProCredit Bank A.D.
Address of Bank: Milutina Milankovica 17, 11070 New Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
Tel. nr. of Bank: + 381 11 20 57 000
Account Holder: KARITAS SRBIJE
IBAN: RS35 2201 1305 0000 2691 92
Swift: PRCBRSBG
Sort code (when applicable):
1. CONTEXT
“This is a historic catastrophe” were the words of one of ambassadors who visited admission center in Preshevo, a small place on the Serbian-Macedonian border being the main entry point for migrants entering Serbia. Since mid-June the number of migrants entering Serbia has increased drastically. According to the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migrants[1] about 1.000 migrants are registered at the Preshevo admission center per day. On August 24th almost 8.000 migrants were registered in only one day showing the tendency that will continue in future. Since the beginning of August about 60.000 migrants went through Preshevo on their way to the north. However, much more is expected in the upcoming days knowing that more than 160.000 migrants are currently in Greece heading towards Serbia. In Preshevo Centre migrants legalize their stay in Serbia by obtaining a 3-day valid Registration document. The Centre has capacity to accommodate up to 400 people overnight in tents (even there are plans to expand this capacity), however this capacity was not used so far since migrants usually continue their trip immediately after the registration. Nevertheless, access to EU becomes very difficult as Hungary has completed the razor-wire barrier and the Romanian and Bulgarian border is practically closed for migrants. Moreover, EU is interested in establishing a migrant center “somewhere” in Balkans with the capacity of about 400.000 people. In that respect one of the Serbian Government officials has stated that such a request has been received within a frame of Serbia EU-accession process (Chapters 23/24).
Anyhow, Serbia is no longer the transit country only i.e. the reality is that migrants remain in the country on temporary or longer-term basis. Without any doubts certain number of migrants will require integration in Serbian society. Their integration will require enormous efforts due to huge cultural and other differences.
The migrants flow is clearly well organized, structured and channeled, however political and other implications will not be elaborated further in this proposal. Nevertheless, local Catholic Church with its institutions Justice and Peace Commission and Caritas is carefully observing and analyzing the complexity of entire situation and its impact on regional stability, peace, inter-ethnic, inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.
So far, we identified three waves of migrants. The first wave included “wealthy“-migrants having no problem to access EU member states; even deciding on the country of final destination. This group had travel documents and their status was notably different comparing to average Serbian population. Their migration seems completed. The second group is “middle-class”-migrants; they are usually without travel documents but still have some financial resources. They are paying for the services and they are still capable to buy basic food and hygiene. This group of migrants is decreasing every day and has almost disappeared. The last group of migrants reflects poor people without travel documents, without resources, often in compromised nutritional and hygiene status. Their health status is questionable. Tens of thousands of these people are expected in the upcoming period. Their short term needs are food and hygiene items including baby hygiene, health services and psychosocial support. The children of these families are particularly fragile category requiring special attention, psychosocial support and appropriate animation. The mid-term needs of this group of migrants include shelter/winterization relief although this will depend on further developments.
As we have already pointed out immediately after being registered at the admission center migrants move towards north trying to enter EU through Hungary. More and more of them fail in this attempt. Actually the migrants flow in Serbia have several steps:
1. Miratovac camp: is situated on Macedonian-Serbian border in the village Miratovac where migrants may receive the first assistance. Here is the area where they are gathered in groups and from this camp they are transported by bus (organized by the state) to Preshevo admission center that is few kilometers away. In principle their stay in the camp is quit short as they are directed to the admission center. However, there are plans to expand the capacity of the camp.
2. Preshevo admission center: is located in Preshevo, a small place on Macedonian-Serbian border where migrants are registered (they obtain a 3-day Registration document for foreigners without travel documents). Currently, this center has capacity to accommodate up to 400 people overnight and provide basic health and sanitary service. Since the Centre uses the facility of an old factory the capacity of the Centre to accommodate people can be easily expanded. This will depend on development of the situation.
3. Belgrade Centre for migrants: is will be located in Belgrade, Serbian capital in close proximity to the highway leading to the north. Serbian Government is planning to build a capacity for 5.000 people looking at the needs of migrants during the winter period.
4. Kanjiza Centre for migrants: is located in Kanjiza a small place close to the border between Serbia and Hungary where migrants are accommodated when they fail to enter Hungary (EU). In this center families with children are usually accommodated and currently the Centre has capacity for 800 people. This capacity can be expanded.
In addition, Serbian government is planning to establish two more centers in Subotica region (town close to the border with Hungary) as the number of migrants remaining in Serbia is growing every day.
Based on extensive assessment missions provided by Diocesan Caritas of Belgrade together with National Caritas covering both southern and northern regions of Serbia the following will be the fields of Caritas intervention:
1. Provision of selected food items
2. Provision of hygiene items to women
3. Provision of baby hygiene
4. Provision of health assistance
5. Provision of psychosocial support
6. Provision of sleeping bags
7. Improvement of sanitary conditions in Preshevo
8. Provision of electricity plugs and internet hot spot at the admission center
9. Provision of animation tools and raincoats for children (and adults)
And the following are the sites of Caritas intervention:
1. Miratovac Camp
2. Preshevo admission Centre
3. Kanjiza Centre for Migrants
4. Subotica Centre for Migrants
Caritas network in Serbia is already providing assistance to migrants using local limited resources. This is presented in the following chapter.
Important notice: The situation with migrants is changing on daily basis. Many plans announced by government officials might not be fulfilled or will be adjusted according to the development of situation. We will use the Caritas situation reports to inform the network about changing situation that might influence the course of this project as well.
2.  NEEDS ASSESSMENT
During the second half of August Diocesan Caritas of Belgrade have completed several extensive assessment missions in both southern and northern part of the country. These assessment missions have included the following:
1. Meetings with the government officials in Belgrade (Commissariat for Refugees and Migrants, Serbian Red Cross)
2. Meetings with the local authorities in the affected municipalities (Preshevo, Kanjiza, Subotica)
3. Meetings with the representatives of municipal agencies responsible for migrants’ crisis
4. Meetings with the managers of migrants’ camps, admission center, migrants’ centers (local representatives of Commissariat for Refugees and Migrants, Red Cross)
5. Interviews with migrants of different age and gender groups in Preshevo, Subotica and Kanjiza region
6. Interviews with local population in the affected municipalities
The assessment missions gradually shifted towards nearly permanent Caritas presence in the affected regions. Some of the assessment missions were conducted together with expats from Caritas Network (DCV, Caritas Italiana, Caritas Europa, etc.).
The two mission reports are already disseminated within Caritas network.
Based on the assessment missions we can identify the following short-term needs of migrant population passing through Serbia:
1. Food items (very selective according to migrants’ religious affiliation/nearly 25% of food delivered so far was simply thrown-away by migrants)
2. Hygiene items
3. Baby hygiene
4. Health assistance
5. Psychosocial assistance and animation (mainly to children and women)
6. Shelter
7. Transport
Caritas intend to provide response to the first 5 needs recognized during the field visits.
The mid-term needs are primarily linked to the winter period however this will depend on development of the situation.
Until now Caritas provided the following services:
1. Provision of basic food for 220 migrants per day at the Preshevo admission center starting from mid-August (the service organized by local Caritas Luxembourg office in Vranje/southern Serbia/ operating under the contract with Diocesan Caritas of Belgrade).
2. Assistance to the Unit of the Municipal authorities in Preshevo dealing with migrants (provided by Diocesan Caritas of Belgrade and Central Caritas)
3. Psychosocial support to children and women in Kanjiza and Subotica centers as well as sanitary assistance (provided by local parish Caritas operating under the Diocesan Caritas of Subotica)
4. Provision of food and hygiene items to migrants passing through Belgrade (organized by parish Caritas organizations from Belgrade, Serbian capital)
5. Provision of hygiene items to collective center for migrants in Bogovadja (mostly) consisting of 1000 hygiene packages for adults and 250 for kids.
3.  PROPOSED RESPONSE (max. 6 pages)
GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS
Caritas network in Serbia will provide the emergency relief to migrants in the following regions of Serbia:
1. Preshevo municipality (Preshevo and Miratovac -Southern Serbia, border region between Macedonia and Serbia)
2. Kanjiza and Subotica municipality (Northern Serbia, Vojvodina, border region between Serbia and Hungary)
Please consider the map with marked locations of Caritas intervention:
SECURITY SITUATION
The overall security situation is stabile so far although there are reports about individual incidents between different migrants due to various reasons. The migrants are coming from different regions/countries and these differences are sometimes the cause of conflicts and may pose treat to overall security.
Neither NGO security network nor the INSO or UN OCHA Security Advisor work has been established and there are no signs that it will be done in the upcoming period.
So far Serbian Government is providing full security in the affected regions and there are no evident signs that this may change. However, if the migrants’ centers become fully populated the security might be compromised. Already, there are some fears that the work within camps/centers might carry certain security risks.
Therefore we would categorized the security status as “tense”:
o  Extreme: serious security risks; no or very limited access in target areas
o  Tense: varied security risks; may limit access to target areas at times
o  Normal: no significant security risks that may affect the response
RESPONSE OBJECTIVES / LOGICAL FRAMEWORK
Please consider the log-frame that is enclosed (Annex 1).
GOAL
To reduce sufferings of migrant population during their stay in Serbia by providing them food, hygiene, sleeping bags, rain coats, health services and psychosocial support.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE
Deliver humanitarian aid in a form of food, personal hygiene items, sleeping bags, raincoats, and provide health and psychosocial support services to the most vulnerable categories of migrants on the locations in Preshevo, Miratovac, Kanjiza, and Subotica.
RESULTS
At the end of the project the following results are expected to be achieved:
1. 100.000 migrants are provided by selected food items
2. 32.000 female migrants are provided with equal number of sets of hygiene material
3. 7.5000 babies are provided with equal number of sets of baby-hygiene material
4. 1.000 migrants are provided with health services
5. 1.000 migrants are provided with psychosocial support
6. 4.000 sleeping bags are distributed in Miratovac camp and Preshevo admission center and 1.000 sleeping bags are used in Kanjiza and Subotica centers for migrants
7. Preshevo municipality is provided with 20 new garbage containers
8. Electricity plugs and an internet hot spot is set at the admission centers on north and south
9. 5.000 migrant children and adults are provided with raincoats (north and south) and animation material is used in Kanjiza and if possible Subotica center
ACTIVITIES
Caritas will distribute the following aid to the migrant population during their stay in Serbia (based on the assessment field visits):