Refugees and Migrants at the Balkans Route Regional Overview January-August 2024

Data and Trend Analysis (DATA) Refugees and Migrants at the Western Balkans Route Regional Overview January – August 2024 describes key trends in migrations in the region, detailing information about the number of people on the move, demography (age, sex, country of origin, etc.), behavioural patterns, and routes in use – with a focus on children, particularly unaccompanied children.

Key trends and findings highlighted in this report:
• The first eight months of 2024 on the Balkan route were marked by a sharp increase in the number of new arrivals in Greece compared to the previous year (close to 30,000 new arrivals, which represents an increase of 61%) and a continuously high number of registered new arrivals in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
• In other countries, especially Serbia, fewer children were registered, which increases their vulnerability. In Bulgaria, the border with Türkiye remained highly policed with many reported pushbacks.
• Transit through the Balkan route seems highly organised and fast; intensive border controls coinciding with Frontex’s presence throughout the region have also strengthened the influence of the smuggling groups.
• The decrease in registered numbers of refugees and migrants in some Balkan countries should be taken cautiously, looking at the statistics – in the EU members plus Switzerland and Norway the number of applications from Syrians (71,000) in the first half of 2024 increased by 7 % compared to the same period in 2023; the new arrivals from Afghanistan (45,000) and Türkiye (28,049), who usually arrive through the Balkans, are still among the most numerous groups of asylum seekers, surpassing the number of these citizens registered in the Balkans, indicating that many children and adults are travelling undetected.
• Violence and instabilities in Lebanon, Syria and other countries in the Middle East have historically been push factors for a great number of refugees and migrants who are travelling across the Balkans to seek safety in Europe. Monitoring migration trends and anticipatory action are key to protecting children and adults in vulnerable situations.