Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
All RFE/RL websites Follow RFE/RL on Google
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnian Migrant Camp 'Dangerous And Inhumane,' Rights Group Warns Amid Rising Tensions

A migrant walks through puddles inside the Vucjak camp near Bihac in Bosnia.
A migrant walks through puddles inside the Vucjak camp near Bihac in Bosnia.

Migrants trying to reach Western Europe are living in “dangerously cold and harsh conditions” in Bosnia, a prominent human rights group warned on November 15 amid mounting tensions in the Balkan country over the influx of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty.

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) group said that the improvised Vucjak refugee camp in northwestern Bosnia does not meet basic living standards, calling it a "dangerous and inhumane place."

The Vucjak camp, built in June on a former landfill, hosts around 2,000 people. It does not have electricity or running water, and tents housing migrants were erected on bare ground.

The European Union has given Bosnia more than 36 million euros ($40 million) in aid, but conditions at Vucjak are so bad that "no EU financial support can, or will be, provided for it," EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said on November 14.

Winter Puts Growing Pressure On Bosnia's Condemned Migrant Camp

Migrants on a road near the Vucjak refugee camp in Bihac, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on October 30.
1/14 Migrants on a road near the Vucjak refugee camp in Bihac, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on October 30.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
A migrant huddles next to a fire as cold weather begins to bite in the makeshift camp, a few kilometers from the border with Croatia.
2/14 A migrant huddles next to a fire as cold weather begins to bite in the makeshift camp, a few kilometers from the border with Croatia.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
A Bosnian policeman in the Vucjak camp talks with migrants. Bosnia has seen a buildup of Middle Eastern and Asian migrant numbers since nearby EU members Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia sealed their borders to undocumented migrants.
3/14 A Bosnian policeman in the Vucjak camp talks with migrants. Bosnia has seen a buildup of Middle Eastern and Asian migrant numbers since nearby EU members Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia sealed their borders to undocumented migrants.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
A phone charging station in the Vucjak camp. According to Bosnian officials, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20191024-it-s-the-jungle-bosnian-migrant-camp-in-crisis">at least 6,000 migrants</a> are currently stranded in the Bihac region.
4/14 A phone charging station in the Vucjak camp. According to Bosnian officials, at least 6,000 migrants are currently stranded in the Bihac region.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
Men warm themselves by a fire inside the Vucjak camp.
5/14 Men warm themselves by a fire inside the Vucjak camp.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
As of 2018, around 35 percent of the migrants in the camp were Pakistanis, 20 percent were Afghans, and 20 percent claimed to be from Syria, though an official <a href="https://youtu.be/Gf2SaMdCp10?t=402">cast doubt</a> on that figure. Syrians and Afghans are widely seen as most deserving of refugee status due to the ongoing war in their home countries.
6/14 As of 2018, around 35 percent of the migrants in the camp were Pakistanis, 20 percent were Afghans, and 20 percent claimed to be from Syria, though an official cast doubt on that figure. Syrians and Afghans are widely seen as most deserving of refugee status due to the ongoing war in their home countries.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
Migrants walking near the Croatian border. Most of the men are trying to leave Bosnia-Herzegovina and enter Croatia, an EU member. From there, many hope to head further north to wealthy Western European countries such as Germany and Sweden.
7/14 Migrants walking near the Croatian border. Most of the men are trying to leave Bosnia-Herzegovina and enter Croatia, an EU member. From there, many hope to head further north to wealthy Western European countries such as Germany and Sweden.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
But crossing the border illegally has become increasingly difficult. This Afghan migrant says he was beaten by Bosnian police.<br /> &nbsp;
8/14 But crossing the border illegally has become increasingly difficult. This Afghan migrant says he was beaten by Bosnian police.
 
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
A sheep is slaughtered in the Vucjak camp.
9/14 A sheep is slaughtered in the Vucjak camp.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
But a UN official has demanded more be done to house the stranded migrants in Bosnia as winter approaches, calling the Vucjak camp &ldquo;absolutely inappropriate and inadequate for accommodating human beings.&rdquo; This migrant is seen in a smoke-filled tent, apparently from a fire lit to warm up the flimsy shelter.<br /> &nbsp;
10/14 But a UN official has demanded more be done to house the stranded migrants in Bosnia as winter approaches, calling the Vucjak camp “absolutely inappropriate and inadequate for accommodating human beings.” This migrant is seen in a smoke-filled tent, apparently from a fire lit to warm up the flimsy shelter.
 
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
According to Peter Van der Auweraert of the International Organization for Migration, 80-85 percent of the camp&rsquo;s population are economic migrants &quot;rather than people in need of international protections.&quot;<br /> &nbsp;
11/14 According to Peter Van der Auweraert of the International Organization for Migration, 80-85 percent of the camp’s population are economic migrants "rather than people in need of international protections."
 
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
Adding to a rising sense of crisis, the Bihac city administration recently announced it will no longer pay for garbage collection and water supplies for the camp.
12/14 Adding to a rising sense of crisis, the Bihac city administration recently announced it will no longer pay for garbage collection and water supplies for the camp.
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
On October 21, Bihac&rsquo;s mayor told reporters: &ldquo;Ever since the Vucjak [migrant camp] was established, the city of Bihac has provided all kinds of services, including water delivery, through its public companies. We delivered 20,000 liters of water daily.&rdquo;
13/14 On October 21, Bihac’s mayor told reporters: “Ever since the Vucjak [migrant camp] was established, the city of Bihac has provided all kinds of services, including water delivery, through its public companies. We delivered 20,000 liters of water daily.”
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
A migrant cleans his bedding among tents at the Vucjak camp. Since 2018, the EU has paid Bosnia 34 million euros ($37.4 million) to help manage the country&rsquo;s migrant situation.<br /> &nbsp;
14/14 A migrant cleans his bedding among tents at the Vucjak camp. Since 2018, the EU has paid Bosnia 34 million euros ($37.4 million) to help manage the country’s migrant situation.
 
Hundreds of migrants stranded in a camp in the Bosnian forest are at risk as the Balkan winter approaches, aid workers say.
Previous slide
Next slide

Click image to open gallery.

Most migrants have gathered in the northwestern part of Bosnia, which borders EU member Croatia, prompting local authorities to demand that other parts of the country share the migrant burden.

On November 14, Avramopoulos warned that colder weather could lead to a humanitarian crisis in Bosnia.

"We have raised with the [Bosnian] authorities the risk of a humanitarian crisis in the coming winter," Avramopoulos told the European Parliament.

He said that adequate accommodation must be provided for about 8,000 migrants in the country.

Migrant Influx Brings 'Humanitarian Crisis' To Croatia-Bosnia Border
Embed
Migrant Influx Brings 'Humanitarian Crisis' To Croatia-Bosnia Border
by RFE/RL

No media source currently available

0:00 0:03:08 0:00

An estimated 50,000 migrants have crossed into Bosnia since last year putting additional pressure on the impoverished country. The government in Sarajevo, perpetually blocked by ethnic squabbling, has failed to act.

Authorities in northwestern Bosnia have threatened to impose a curfew on November 15 in other large local migrant camps -- the Bira and Miral camps in Bihac, and the camp in Velika Kladusa -- to press the central government to relocate people to other areas.

Those camps, hosting some 2,300 people, are run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and migrants there are officially registered as asylum seekers.

Local authorities said that starting November 15 they will not allow more migrants into the camps, while only those heading to the Croatian border will be allowed to leave.

The IOM warned that the decision could lead to worsening of the security situation and even prompt a pullout of international organizations from the area.

With reporting by AP and dpa
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL's Balkan Service

    In 2019, RFE/RL's Balkan Service marked 25 years of reporting in one of the world’s most contested regions, championing professionalism and moderation in a media landscape that is sharply divided along ethnic and partisan lines.

This item is part of
​
XS
SM
MD
LG