Between 10 and 22 March IOM Slovenia assisted three groups of asylum seekers from Italy and Greece in their arrival to Slovenia as part of the EU relocation scheme.

In total 11 persons from Eritrea and 24 from Syria, as well as 6 stateless persons arrived to the Asylum Centre in Ljubljana. The groups were welcomed by representatives of IOM Slovenia, the Asylum Centre and the Ministry of the Interior. The following day their applications for international protection were submitted. So far 165 persons seeking international protection arrived to Slovenia with IOM’s assistance as part of the EU relocation programme. Among those, 34 were nationals of Eritrea relocated from Italy and 131 were relocated from Greece, of which 108 were from Syria, 17 from Iraq and 6 stateless persons.

In the pre-departure phase IOM conducts health assessments to ensure that beneficiaries travel in safety. Furthermore, the mission organizes one-day pre-departure and cultural orientation sessions, providing information in a language the beneficiaries understand, on their rights and obligations, on what to expect when they arrive, as well as pre-embarkation information. IOM also carries out a pre-embarkation fitness for travel check a few hours before departure and provides assistance during boarding. IOM representatives accompany individuals or groups of beneficiaries through their transit points and/or final destinations.

For more information visit our website: http://slovenia.iom.int or contact IOM Slovenia, Tel. +386 1 4347351, Email iomljubljana@iom.int