January 02, 2020

Who is to blame for 1,000 migrants left campless?

topic:	Refugees and Asylum
located:	Bosnia and Herzegovina
editor:	Katarina Panić

One thousand migrants have been stranded for the last ten days at the former Lipa camp in north-western Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting in yet another humanitarian catastrophe  close to the EU border. And, once again, no solution is in sight in the middle of the freezing winter.

In March, the camp was formed to host all migrants off the streets during the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) closed the facility since the state authorities never provided electricity, water and road access.

The evacuation was delayed several times as locals protested against every single location the authorities had suggested. Migrants themselves refused to be placed anywhere else but in the north-west since none of them is here to stay. Now and then, they play the game, trying to cross the Croatian border illegally. Unlike Bosnia, Croatia is an EU member, and once they reach it, their European dream comes true.

The EU does give Bosnia money to manage migrations (more than a hundred million euros over the last three years), but the latter has no coherent migration policy, certainly not welcoming one. 

Once the evacuation eventually began on 23 December, vandals among the migrants appeared to have set fire to tents. It took six days for 20 buses to come. The people spent some 30 hours inside, but the buses never left Lipa village since the former army barracks near Konjic failed, as many others did too.

Two days ago, the government said the people would be moved to Bira, formerly the largest migrant centre. Hundreds of locals immediately gathered in front of Bira factory in Bihać, refusing to admit migrants to the area again. Repeatedly deceived, residents do not trust the authorities' claim that it would be a temporary solution only. 

Back in 2017, people in Bosnia showed solidarity for people on the move on the so-called new Balkan route. Over the last three years, things significantly changed. Initial welcome turned into growing xenophobia. 

As of this reporting, no one has moved from the Lipa site yet. Meanwhile, activists persistently collect food, clothes, blankets and medicine for migrants. They campaign for solutions, fight against non-human conditions and call the media. In a word, they do whatever they can, unlike others in the chain. It seems only activists are free from blame. 

Image by José Manuel de Laá