Migrians getting worse on Balkan roads

“Dhuna and the abuse of refugees and migrants along the Balkan route” is the name of the report, which describes in detail how, contrary to international law and putting security first, European governments not only ignore the brutal attacks of Croatian police on immigrants but also finance their activities.

“That way they are encouraging a humanitarian crisis at the doors of Europe”, the report further says.

Currently, some 5,500 women, men and children have been trapped in two Bosniak towns bordering Croatia, in unconditionally improvised camps for basic life needs.

Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot provide them with adequate protection, improvised camps are not hygienic, there is no hot water, medical assistance and sufficient food.

A mother from Afghanistan told Amnesty International: “We don't have enough food to feed the entire family, especially the children. They're constantly hungry”

bureaucratic obstacles and insufficient legal assistance mean that potential asylum seekers are unlikely to be prosecuted in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most are trying to continue their path to European countries, the report says.

This trip is not easy at all, as they first enter the EU through Greece and Bulgaria, and after being rejected by asylum demands in those countries, they leave the EU and continue their journey through the Balkans. To reach Slovenia or Italy, where the visa-free regime system begins, they must cross the dense forests of Croatia, the fast river and in some places through active mines, writes Radio Free Europe.

In the first ten months of 2018, at least 12 people drowned in one of the Western Balkan countries, mainly trying to cross the border from Croatia to Slovenia. Tens of people died in other ways trying to cross one of the borders, said further in the report.

Almost all those in Bosnia's camps have returned from Croatia and Slovenia, and almost a third of those interviewed for Amnesty International's report have experienced some form of violence by Croatian police.

Many of them described how they were beaten, how their documents were destroyed. This seems to be the deliberate and systematic policy of Croatian authorities to discourage the future efforts of migrants to enter the country”, the organisation says.

Among the main recommendations of Amnesty International's report, showing the violent return practices of migrants to Bosnia and Herzegovina, say border police should stop using force and intimidation to prevent their entry into Croatia.

Moreover, the report says it is necessary to review the allegations of excessive use of force on the border efficiently and to take necessary measures against authors.

In addition, it is said that it is necessary to stop the campaign, which seems to have been intended to mistreat organisations promoting the rights of refugees and migrants, and instead must provide them with a secure environment for their work.

The interior ministry of the Republic of Croatia completely dismissed the findings of the “Amnesty International” report on police violence against migrants.

“In all these cases of detailed checks on the field conducted by police, so far, in no case has police officers been proven that austerity tools against migrants “, Croatia's Interior Ministry said.