The European Union strongly condemned the “forceful” relocation of migrants in the northwestern Una-Sana Canton (USK) from camp Bira to camp Lipa on Wednesday, saying that the operation left hundreds of people without accommodation and urging Bosnia’s Security Ministry to “prevent a humanitarian crisis from unfolding.”
Police USK shut down a migrant camp in the town of Bihac on Wednesday, relocating its residents to the Lipa migrant camp, which is already full.
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About eighty minors who were in the Bira camp were relocated to a newly established migrant centre and about one hundred adults were taken to the Lipa camp. Numerous other migrants decided to try to cross the Croatian border.
According to a Thursday statement by the EU Delegation in Bosnia, the operation was illegal and only makes the situation worse.
The full statement follows:
“The EU strongly condemns the unacceptable actions undertaken on Wednesday, 30 September by the Una Sana Canton authorities, forcibly transferring refugees and migrants from the temporary reception centre “Bira” in Bihać outside the emergency facility in Lipa, which is already at full capacity. As a result, hundreds of persons are left in harsh weather conditions without shelter and access to basic assistance. These irresponsible actions put lives at risk.
These unilateral actions amplify the humanitarian crisis on the ground, jeopardise COVID-19 protection measures, and severely worsen the overall security situation. These actions are contrary to domestic legislation and the authority of competent State institutions. They raise very serious concerns with regard to the lack of respect of the rule of law and human rights.
The EU has consistently made it clear that the emergency facility in Lipa is only a temporary COVID-19 response measure and does not fulfil basic requirements needed to host refugees and migrants in current weather conditions or across winter. The facility in Lipa has never been designated as a reception centre by the Council of Ministers.
The EU expects the competent Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina to urgently take all necessary measures to prevent a humanitarian crisis from unfolding, ensure shelter for all persons in need, including unaccompanied minors, facilitate humanitarian assistance and stop further evictions. The EU also expects violations of the law to be duly investigated and the rule of law to be upheld.
The EU has provided considerable support to Bosnia and Herzegovina to manage migration and asylum. The EU urges Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities to live up to their commitments. The EU will continue to stand by all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in coping with the challenging situation, which worsened due to recent actions of the authorities.”
Since the beginning of 2018, the number of migrants passing through Bosnia has drastically increased. The country became a significant transit point for the thousands of migrants after numerous surrounding countries closed their borders.
The migrants aim to reach EU countries through Bosnia and Croatia. Croatian border police, however, often turns them away from the border and back into Bosnia.
The northwestern USK is near Croatia’s border and is the part of the country most affected by the migrant crisis.
