Author
Accommodation of applicants is organised in the two reception centres for applicants for international protection, one in Zagreb and the other in Kutina.
In 2023, reception and accommodation of applicants for international protection was challenging due to the highest number of expressed intentions to apply for international protection that has ever been recorded in Croatia, namely 68,114 persons were registered as applicants for international protection.[1]
However, many of them never reported to Reception Centres for Applicants for International Protection.
During 2023, in the Reception Centres for Applicants for International Protection in Zagreb and Kutina more than 34,000 people were accommodated, whereas only 551 were still accommodated there at the end of December 2023.The Ministry of Interior reported that the average length of stay in the Reception Centre in 2023 was less than 3 days, with the largest number of people leaving the Centre within 24 hours of arrival.[2]
The Croatian Red Cross (CRC) reported that the biggest challenge during 2023 was the very significant influx of newly arrived applicants for international protection in both Reception Centres for Applicants for International Protection. This required additional efforts and the involvement of all CRC’s employees in reception and accommodation activities to provide all applicants with beds, hygiene packages, bed linen packages, and clothes and shoes. Often, the influx of new applicants was over 150 in 24 hours, which resulted in the temporary accommodation on mattresses in the corridors until the beds in the rooms became available. As a result, difficulties in maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the corridors inside the Reception Centre for Applicants for International Protection in Zagreb occurred, since the cleaners were not able to clean all the corridors because of the mattresses and applicants sleeping on them. In Kutina, the problem was partially solved by installing containers on the football field, where applicants were accommodated when all the sleeping capacities inside the Centre were filled. Also, a large number of applicants stayed in the Centres just for a few days, and some stayed for less than 24 hours.[3]
In October 2023, the United Nations agencies operating in Croatia (UNCT – United Nations Country Team) addressed the Ministry of the Interior regarding the increase in the number of irregular migrants, applicants for international protection, and unaccompanied children, offering cooperation with the proposal of a meeting to be informed about plans on accommodation facilities for applicants for international protection. The Ministry of Interior responded, informing the UNCT about all the activities it carries out in the field of international protection, expressing its readiness to continue cooperation with UN organizations, with an emphasis on the need for further training of Ministry of Interior’s officials, especially on vulnerable groups in the field of international protection. UNICEF Office for Croatia plans to expand its program activities in 2024, which will be aimed at those seeking international protection, and discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Interior.[4]
In March 2020, access to Reception Centres for Applicants of International Protection became subject to visitation restrictions, i.e., only personnel of the Ministry of Interior necessary for the normal functioning of the Centre was allowed entrance to the facilities. This means that civil society organizations had to interrupt their activities in the centres, with the exception of the Croatian Red Cross and MdM.[5] The same organisation continued in 2023 and restrictions for nonessential entries to the centres remained in place until the end of 2023.
Overall living conditions
Applicants can go outside whenever they want but have to return by 11 pm. Under the House Rules, return to centre after 11pm is possible with the permission of the officials of the Reception Centre.
Applicants may stay outside the Reception Centre for Applicants for International Protection for longer than 24 hours with the prior consent of the Reception Centre. If, on the basis of individual assessment, consent is denied, the Reception Centre shall issue a decision thereon.[6]
State of the facilities
People in the reception centres share rooms. In Kutina, families share a room, unaccompanied children and single women are accommodated separately in rooms, while in Zagreb a maximum 4 persons can share a room.[7] Families are accommodated in the same room, but in Zagreb if there are more than 5 members of one family, they are given 2 rooms if possible.[8] In previous years, there were sufficient showers and toilets and facilities were cleaned on a regular basis, however in 2023 challenges occurred due to high incereas in the number of accomodated applicants
As reported by the Croatian Red Cross, in 2023 the biggest challenge was the huge influx of newly arrived applicants for international protection in both Reception Centres for Applicants for International Protection which in some periods resulted in their temporary accommodation on mattresses in the corridors until the beds in the rooms became available.
Food and religious practice
In both centres, residents receive three meals per day and pregnant women, recent mothers and children up to 16 years shall be also provided with an afternoon snack.[9]
Kitchens, equipped by the Croatian Red Cross, where applicants can prepare meals by themselves, are available in the Reception Centres in Kutina,[10] and in Zagreb.[11] However, there is no information available whether kitchens were in function in the period from 2020until the end of 2023.
No problems were reported in connection to the possibility of practicing religion. In the Reception Centre in Zagreb, there is a room for Muslim applicants to pray. In Kutina, applicants can practice their religion in their rooms.
Activities in the centres
The staff of the Ministry of Interior working in the reception centres was generally sufficient in previous years. However in 2023, the main challenges resulted from the highest numbers of applicants than have been ever recorded.
Access to reception centres was restricted from March 2020 until the end of 2023, with the exception of personnel of the Ministry of Interior, Croatian Red Cross and MdM. . Apart from CRC and MdM, civil society organisations were not present in the centres in the course of 2023. In 2023, as in previous years, most of the applicants remained in the centre for a very short period of time and fluctuation of applicants who were voluntarily leaving the centre was significant. At the same time, the capacity of the centre was filling with the new persons.
In 2023, Croatian Red Cross (CRC) continued to carry out activities with applicants for international protection at the Reception Centre in Zagreb and Kutina.[12] Applicants were provided with psychosocial support and social activities were organised.
More precisely, the CRC carried out the following activities in the Reception Centres:
- participation in the reception and accommodation of newly arrived applicants for international protection;
- encouragement to applicants to maintain hygiene and cleanliness;
- procurement and distribution of hygiene supplies and humanitarian aid;
- providing various types of information and assistance in solving everyday problems;
- Info corner;
- Job Center (participation of applicants in the maintenance of the Reception Centre and the environment);
- ensuring the availability of washing machines and kitchenettes for applicants;
- workshops and education of applicants on personal hygiene and space hygiene to promote hygienic habits and healthy lifestyles and health;
- education on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases;
- assistance in accessing health services, provision of specialist health examinations as prescribed by a doctor, provision of medicines and food items as recommended by a doctor, for vulnerable groups, procurement of medical equipment and aids;
- holding of first aid courses;
- provision of psychosocial and practical support and assistance to applicants for international protection, based on the identified needs of individuals and families;
- identification of vulnerable groups and planning work adapted to their specific needs;
- organization of various social, educational and sports activities (children’s workshop, creative workshop, sports activities, football, gym for men and women, IT workshop, technical workshop, Croatian language workshop, library, music room, intercultural learning workshops, education on promoting hygiene and health);
- inclusion of applicants in programs and activities in the local community and involvement of volunteers from the local community in activities with applicants, with the aim of better socialization and inclusion in community life, and prevention of conflict situations, misunderstanding, discrimination and xenophobia;
- family tracing and restoring family links.
The work of the CRC team was organised in two shifts from 8 am to 4 pm, and from 12 pm to 8 pm, and on weekends and during holidays from 8 am to 2 pm.
The CRC reported that, during 2023, due to the extremely large influx of applicants who stayed in the Reception Centres for a very short time, it was difficult to identify vulnerabilities and needs in situations that were not obvious.
Organisations continued providing assistance and activities also outside the Reception Centres:
In 2023, AYS[13] continued to run a so-called “free shop” where applicants for and beneficiaries of international protection (but also other persons in needs) could get clothes, shoes, hygiene items, dishes and other household items free of charge. The Free Shop is open three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), and during 2023, in total 2867 visitor arrivals were recorded while 44,003 items were distributed. According to AYS, during 2023, applicants for international protection often complained about impossibility of obtaining adequate clothes and shoes in the Reception Centre and about hygiene packages which were not enough for the whole month, but consisted of small one-time products that needed to be asked for again.
During 2023, AYS conducted 1 informal Croatian language course lasting for 4 months. The course was intended for both applicants for international protection and persons who were granted international protection and it took place in the premises of the AYS integration centre. The second language course which started in November 2023, continues in 2024. . AYS reported that their organisation received more requests for the language courses than the organization could cover. Most of the participants were applicants for international protection.
In 2023, AYS assisted in the employment of approximately 40 persons (applicants for international protection and persons granted international and temporary protection), which in practice meant drafting
resumes or assistance in creating CVs, finding suitable jobs depending on education, work experience and skills of the beneficiaries and contacting potential employers. The problems observed by AYS were lack of knowledge of the language, non-payment of wages or overtime hours, failure to inform about employee rights (for example, about maternity and parental leave, the right to annual leave) and avoidance of signing the contracts by employers.
In 2023, the Rehabilitation Centre for Stress and Trauma (RCT) provided the following activities: individual psychotherapy through counselling with a solution-oriented approach; psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy; assistance in finding job vacancies and in creating and sending resumes and job applications; establishing contact and communication with employers; accompaniment of the interpreter to the job interview and psycho-social support for victims of torture. RCT reported that they requested to continue providing activities in the Reception Centre for Applicants of International Protection, however their request remained unanswered.[14]
Association Borders: None was also providing free legal aid in their premises to applicants for international protection.[15]
The Croatian Law Centre’s (CLC) lawyers were providing legal counselling to interested applicants at CLC premises, but also through phone and email.
Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) employees and volunteers provided applicants for international protection with information on the system of international protection, as well as with legal support and counselling. CPS provided legal assistance to applicants for international protection in CPS premises but also online, by e-mail, and by telephone. In addition, CPS carried out other activities such as individual support to learn the Croatian language, providing information about life in Croatia, as well as psychosocial support. Based on contacts with applicants for international protection, CPS pointed out as problematic, the lack of information regarding existing services and organizations supporting applicants for international protection outside the Reception Centre for Applicants for International Protection. Many applicants expressed that they believe that more applicants would stay in Croatia if they had information about where and how they can get adequate support regarding their rights and access to basic services or where they can get involved in creative, musical and cultural activities outside the Reception Centre.[16]
In 2023, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) carried out the following activities with applicants for international protection: free legal assistance; mediation in the process of employment of applicants for international protection and integration into the local labour market, providing information to applicants on key aspects of life in Croatia (including enrolment in schools, the health system and integration into the community in general); organizing intercultural meetings with the local community, which were adapted to different groups: men, youth and women; familiarization with Croatian culture through excursions to promote a better understanding of local culture and traditions among applicants for international protection. Also, in cooperation with Caritas, JRS organized a summer vacation for young applicants and women with small children.[17]
Duration of stay in the centres
The average length of stay in the reception centres in 2023 was less than 3 days, with the largest number of applicants leaving the Centre within 24 hours of arrival.[18]
In 2023, Croatia was still perceived as a transit country. The Government reported that in the first 10 months of 2023, 97% of persons who expressed their intention to apply for international protection or even submitted an application for international protection have left/are trying to leave Croatia using irregular paths and want to go to Western Europe. At the same time, 47% of persons who have expressed their intention to apply for international protection never report to the reception centers for applicants of international protection seekers in Zagreb or Kutina.[19]
In the regular procedure, applicants can be accommodated at a Reception Centre until the completion of the procedure and a final decision is taken on their case (at first instance and during the administrative dispute). When a final negative decision on the application for international protection has been taken and the time for executing the order to leave the country has elapsed, the right to receiving reception conditions ends.
[1] Ministry of Interior, Statistics 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3Xr1uYp.
[2] Information provided by the Ministry of Interior, 8 March 2024.
[3] Information provided by Croatian Red Cross, 15 January 2024.
[4] Information provided by UNICEF Office for Croatia, 22 January 2024.
[5] Ministry of Interior, Applicants for international protection in the Republic of Croatia are not infected with the coronavirus, 18 March 2020, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3xgvIOf.
[6] Article 56(8) LITP.
[7] Information provided by the Croatian Red Cross, 18 March 2019.
[8] Information provided by the Croatian Red Cross, 18 March 2019.
[9] Article 20 Ordinance on the Realisation of Material Reception Conditions.
[10] Information provided by the Croatian Red Cross, 18 March 2019.
[11] Information provided by the Croatian Red Cross, 20 December 2019.
[12] Information provided by the Croatian Red Cross, 15 January 2024.
[13] Information provided by Are You Syrious, 29 January 2024.
[14] Information provided by the Rehabilitation Centre for Stress and Trauma, 30 January 2024.
[15] Information provided by Borders: None, 15 January 2024.
[16] Information provided by Centre for Peace Studies, 30 January 2024.
[17] Information provided by Jesuit Refugee Service, 5 February 2024.
[18] Information provided by the Ministry of Interior, 8 March 2024.
[19] Government of the Republic of Croatia: Report on the situation of illegal migration in the territory of the Republic of Croatia for the period since Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area, available at: https://bit.ly/3z72PcY, 4.