Thousands of Migrants Stranded in Bosnia as Tuzla Residents Offer Support
Thousands of migrants are currently stranded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with limited routes and hazardous passage through Croatia. As of September 2020, over 7,400 migrants, predominantly from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, and Algeria, are registered in seven reception centers. Tuzla, a multiethnic Bosnian town, has become a significant hub for these individuals, who dream of reaching Western Europe.
Tuzla's unique multiethnic character, boasting Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats, and a small Jewish minority, has fostered a supportive environment for migrants. Azra Alibegović, a local restaurant owner, has played a pivotal role since 2018, coordinating aid efforts, providing shelter, and facilitating access to essential services. She offers migrants use of her restaurant's bathroom, showers, and power outlets in exchange for help cleaning her garden.
Volunteers like Senad Pirić also contribute significantly, providing supplies and support to migrants residing near the main bus station. Here, they have access to a public fountain and meeting places for similar faiths. Among the migrants are two Moroccan friends, both named Hamza, who hope to move to Western Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina serves as a migration crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe, with around 60,000 undocumented migrants entering the country between early 2018 and June 2020.
The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina highlights the urgent need for safe and legal migration routes. With thousands stranded and facing hazardous journeys, international cooperation is crucial to address this pressing issue. Meanwhile, the people of Tuzla, like Azra Alibegović and Senad Pirić, continue to offer support and solidarity to the migrants in their city.
