The movement of the population from their homes and countries to countries where they feel safer and more economically stable reached the figure of 108.4 million at the end of 2022. The global migrant crisis, which unfortunately sets new records every year, and which has not bypassed Bosnia, has largely contributed to this, BiH Human Rights and Refugees Ministry said on the occasion of World Refugee Day.

“Therefore, it is very important that today, on World Refugee Day, we point out the position of these people both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the world, but also to encourage understanding, empathy, and support for people who are forced to leave their homes due to armed conflicts, persecution for any reason, or natural disasters,” the Ministry said.

There are currently 44 persons with recognized refugee status and 99 persons with subsidiary protection status in BiH, to whom this country provides access to the right to housing, health insurance, social security, work, and education, as well as access to easier integration into Bosnian society, and implement language learning programs in official use in Bosnia and Herzegovina for these people as well as other activities aimed at their integration.

From 2015 until today, 50 persons with refugee status have acquired BiH citizenship, and 13 are in the process of acquiring it.

“It is impossible to talk about refugees in BiH and not mention that 2.2 million people were forced to leave their homes during the war in the country. Of these, 1.2 million requested refugee status in 100 countries of the world, while a million of them were internally displaced. Out of 1.2 million of our citizens who requested refugee status in BiH, some 450,000 have returned so far. Nearly 16,000 people from BiH are still refugees around the world,” the Ministry said.