EU Must Prevent Violence Against Refugees at Croatian Border
Amnesty International has strongly criticized the European Union’s policy regarding refugees living at the Croatian border. In this statement, the European Union has also been held responsible for violence against refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Amnesty International has issued a statement warning about the dire situation of refugees at the Croatian border. In this report, member states of the European Union have been called upon to take action against violence and mistreatment of refugees in refugee camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The statement also accuses the European Union of supporting Croatian border police in returning refugees instead of providing assistance to them.
The report refers to the deplorable conditions of refugees in these camps, stating that refugees are deprived of their most basic rights and their safety is not ensured.
Neglect by EU Officials
The statement also highlights the negligence of European Union officials regarding the mistreatment of refugees by Croatian border police.
The statement notes that comparing the amount of money the European Union allocates to assist Croatian border police with the budget provided for humanitarian aid reflects the European Union’s priorities regarding the refugee issue.
Amnesty International, in its statement, meanwhile refers to the dire situation of approximately 5,500 women, men and children living in small towns of “Bihać” and “Velika Kladuša” located at the Croatian border.
The statement indicates that these refugees have been left in abandoned factories without access to the most basic services. Temporary refugee camps are in very poor sanitary conditions, and refugees suffer from lack of hot water and medical services.
Amnesty International has also criticized the shortage of food to meet the most basic human needs of these refugees.
These refugees are mainly those who have been expelled from Croatia and Slovenia and have been forced to reside in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Amnesty International’s statement is based, among other things, on information that has been released about the situation of these refugees in camps in the cities of “Bihać” and “Velika Kladuša”.
These reports refer to mistreatment of refugees and state that even officials have confiscated the meager money and belongings of refugees. It is even reported that documents and papers that these refugees carried with them have been destroyed by border police officers.
In Amnesty International’s statement, member states of the European Union have been called upon to immediately take action to support refugees living in areas bordering Croatia.
Source: DW
