Refugees and Migrants at the Balkans Route: Regional Overview January – March 2023

Data and Trend Analysis (DATA) Refugees and Migrants at the Western Balkans Route Regional Overview July-September 2021 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:

• The number of registered refugees and migrants continued to rise in most countries along the Balkans route in Q1 2023, except for Romania and Bulgaria.
• The number of readmissions from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina drastically increased in the reporting period, with many accounts of maltreatment and lack of procedures for protecting children, particularly the most vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied and separated children. An increased number of refugees and migrants from Morocco was registered in the countries along the Balkans route.
• 3,722 refugees and migrants arrived in Greece, an increase of 95% compared to Q1 2022.
• Bulgarian authorities reported detaining 2,331 refugees and migrants, a reduction of 36% compared to the same period last year.
• 2,040 new arrivals were registered in North Macedonia, an increase of 32% compared to last year.
• 825 new arrivals were registered in Albania, an increase of 87% compared to last year.
• 868 new arrivals were registered in Montenegro, an increase of 999% compared to the new arrivals in the same period last year.
• 237 new arrivals were registered in Kosovo*, an increase of 182% compared to last year.
• There is an increase of 56% in the number of refugees and migrants transiting through Serbia, with 16,216 registered people.
• 2,528 refugees and migrants sought asylum in Romania, a 57% decrease compared to last year.
• 5,201 new arrivals, an increase of 132% compared to last year, were registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• 7,884 refugees and migrants sought asylum in Croatia, a 663% increase compared to last year.