As of December 2022, UNHCR reported that the official Subotica Transit Center was at 217/220 capacity and the Sombor Transit Center was at 344/520. However, from observations on January 19 by field teams, it was reported that Subotica Transit Center was at 330/220 capacity with around 100 people lacking Camp IDs and access to beds, food, or doctors. This information was shared with a field team by the Serbian Commissariat. The field team also observed a reportedly violent and rushed eviction of the overcrowded camp, which left many people no chance to take their belongings with them. The Subotica and Sombor camps have been consistently evicted when they go over capacity in the past two months, which could be one reason that UNHCR reports numbers under capacity for the past few months.
Along with the evictions, both camps maintain far from adequate living conditions.
When we obtained footage from people living in Subotica camp from January 10th, we discovered that the living space was overcrowded with many people sleeping on the floor, while the showers and toilet facilities were filthy. People at the camp reported lack of access to resources or medical care. Individuals told us that the doctors rarely treat people, but often give them prescriptions that they have to go into town and buy themselves for their ailments. People reported that they are often afraid to go into town to get prescriptions because they are worried the police will pick them up.
From footage of the Sombor camp from January 17th we also observed overcrowded conditions, filthy facilities, and overall unacceptable living conditions. There were numerous broken windows in the housing buildings, while two of the main living areas were in large tents that appeared to lack proper heating and facilities. These tents lack adequate flooring and protection from the elements and are overcrowded with beds.
The UNHCR funds these transit centers, and while their reports claim that these camps are not overcrowded and the facilities provide adequate living standards, observations on the ground and reporting say otherwise. Whatever the true numbers of people living in the camp are, the videos show that the living conditions are undeniably inadequate. It is the responsibility of UNHCR to make sure they are providing humane, dignified support to the people living in these camps and that the claims they make about the conditions are trustworthy. The observations of field teams and reports from PoM illustrate a discrepancy between what UNHCR claims to provide and the reality of the conditions.