#balkan

Grèce : 11 000 rejets de demandes d’asile en deux mois, ces migrants « doivent repartir » prévient Athènes

Par La rédaction Publié le : 14/05/2020

Alors que les autorités grecques serrent la vis envers les migrants dans le pays, le ministre de la Migration a annoncé mercredi que 11 000 demandes d’asile avaient été rejetées ces deux derniers mois, ouvrant ainsi la voie à de probables expulsions vers la Turquie. Les services d’immigration, en charge de ces demandes, sont eux toujours fermés au public.

Le ministre grec de la Migration, Noris Mitarakis, a indiqué mercredi 13 mai, lors d’une interview à la radio grecque Skai Radio, que 11 000 demandes d’asile avaient été rejetées par les autorités ces deux derniers mois. Les migrants concernés « doivent repartir », a prévenu le ministre, sous-entendant des renvois massifs vers la Turquie, dernier pays par lequel sont passées ces personnes. Ces expulsions seront vraisemblablement organisées une fois que les mesures de restrictions dues au coronavirus auront été levées, a-t-il encore ajouté sans plus de précisions.

Cette annonce survient alors que les services d’immigration, en charge des demandes d’asile en Grèce, qui sont fermés au public depuis le 13 mars, n’ont pour leur part pas encore publié leurs statistiques relatives aux mois de mars et avril.

>> À (re)lire : Grèce : des centaines de migrants bloqués dans des camps sans pouvoir demander l’asile

Au cours de ce dernier mois, selon Noris Mitarakis, la Grèce a enregistré quelque 16 000 demandes d’asile, soit quatre fois plus que les chiffres enregistrés en moyenne par mois dans le pays.

Restrictions

L’annonce d’Athènes sur le nombre de déboutés fait suite à des restrictions en termes de droits des migrants dans le pays. Une loi adoptée le 8 mai permet en effet d’accélérer les procédures d’asile, la détention automatique des demandeurs d’asile dont les appels ont été rejetés et ceux soumis à des procédures de retour.

En mars, la Grèce avait fait face à de nombreuses arrivées de migrants venus de Turquie, conséquence de l’ouverture des frontières côté turc décrété par le président Recep Tayyip Erdogan le 28 février. Les autorités avaient alors gelé les procédures d’asile pour une durée d’un mois à compter du 1er mars.

>> À (re)lire : La Grèce veut accélérer les expulsions

Dans la foulée, le déclenchement de la pandémie de coronavirus et du confinement a encore ralenti le processus de demandes d’asile. Les services d’immigration en charge de ces dossiers ont annoncé qu’ils ne rouvriraient pas avant le 18 mai.

▻https://www.infomigrants.net/fr/post/24752/grece-11-000-rejets-de-demandes-d-asile-en-deux-mois-ces-migrants-doiv

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Grèce #Asile

Deux cas de corona-virus parmi les réfugiés en "quarantaine" à Lesbos

Deux des neuf réfugiés et migrants contrôlés par un total de 70 vivants dans la structure de Thermi à Lesbos sont de patients asymptomatiques

Posté 12/5/2020

Deux cas de patients asymptomatiques atteints de maladie covid 19 ont été détectés par l’équipe de l’Organisme National Grec de Santé Publique (EODY) parmi neuf réfugiés et migrants dans une structure "quarantaine" pour nouveaux arrivants à Thermae et qui ont été contrôlés au hasard par une équipe de l’EODY. Il s’agit d’une structure qui a été créée et exploitée par le ministère de l’Immigration et de l’Asile dans un espace loué par le ministère.

Les 70 réfugiés et immigrants qui sont arrivés à terre mercredi dernier au port de Skalochori et dimanche à Lapsarna, Antissa, y sont garder en isolation de peur de contamination par des éventuels porteurs du virus.

Des échantillons devraient être prélevés de tous les résidents de la structure demain. Alors que tous ceux qui sont entrés en contact avec eux, la Garde côtière, la police et les individus ou autres employés du service de soins seront également contrôlés.

Les deux patients testés positifs, dans la mesure où ils sont asymptomatiques, sont maintenus dans une quarantaine distincte dans la structure des Grands Thermes.

19 h 30

Des sources du ministère de l’Immigration et de l’Asile ont confirmé les informations ci-dessus, déclarant :

« Deux immigrants qui sont entrés illégalement à Lesbos le 6 mai sont testés positifs. Les cas ont été identifiés dans le cadre d’un contrôle d’échantillons randomisé.

Il convient de noter que les deux restent en quarantaine, dans la structure située à Lesvos Ouest et qui a été louée par le ministère de l’Immigration en consultation avec la municipalité de Lesvos Ouest, près de la plage d’Eftalou. »

Le ministère de l’Immigration précise qu’il n’y a aucun lien entre cette structure et la Moria.

▻https://www.stonisi.gr/post/8951/dyo-kroysmata-koronoioy-sthn-karantina-updated

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Grèce #Lesbos #Thermes #Isolement #Contamination

Refugee families reunited in UK after rescue flight from Greece
Vulnerable people from Greek refugee camps reunited with close family at Heathrow

Some 47 highly vulnerable migrants have arrived in the UK on an “unprecedented” family reunion flight from Greece.

British refugees travelled to Heathrow to greet nephews, brothers, husbands and wives after Monday’s flight brought people from Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan to join close family in the UK. The reunion was the result of two months of intense lobbying by the campaign group Safe Passage and the British peer Alf Dubs.

Many of the individuals, some with severe health problems, had been living for several months in the dire conditions of Greek refugee camps.

’Finally, at last’: vulnerable migrants to leave Greece for UK
Read more
Vulnerable asylum seekers in Europe can apply to be transferred to another EU country where they have close family, but as Covid-19 spread family reunions ground to a halt. Along with children stranded on their own, married couples and vulnerable adults were brought together with relatives who have offered to support them.

Among them was an 18-year-old from Somalia who joined his uncle in the UK after a process of many months, during which he lived in the Moria camp in Lesbos. Some had spent years in Greece while their claims for family reunion were processed. A stateless boy originally from Kuwait was able to join his brother only after his lawyer overturned several Home Office refusals of their claim.

Ahmed, 22*, left his north of England home in the early hours of Monday to reach Heathrow. He was given refugee status in the UK after escaping the Syrian war and has been working nights to support his little brother Wahid who was trapped on Samos. After a lengthy bureaucratic process, Wahid had been about to board a flight in March when it was cancelled.

‘All I think of is my brother’: UK refugee family reunions disrupted by Covid-19
Read more
“He was so disappointed,” Ahmed told the Guardian, “I phoned everybody I could think of to try to get him on a flight, I offered to pay myself. Nobody could help me then just suddenly a few days ago I was told he was coming. I have everything ready for him, we will just sit and talk.”

Peers from both sides of the Lords worked to persuade the Home Office to allow the flight to go ahead, including Lord Dubs who has campaigned for several years for more lone children to be accepted into the UK.

He told the Guardian: “In these bleak times this is a rare but wonderful good news story to emerge from the coronavirus crisis. The conditions in the camps in Greece are truly awful. They’re no place for children or vulnerable people, especially now.

“I hope it is only a start, because there are other children who want to join their family in Britain and there are also children who are in the Greek camps who may not have family here but also need to be helped to find safety.”

The UK Home Office was criticised last month for refusing to take unaccompanied minors from the overcrowded camps. In April, Germany took 49 children and Luxembourg took 12.

Beth Gardiner-Smith, the CEO of Safe Passage, said: “The UK and Greek governments have shown real leadership in reuniting these families despite the travel difficulties and we now urge the UK and other countries across Europe to continue these efforts to ensure no one is left behind.”

A UK Home Office spokesperson said “The UK has a long and proud tradition of providing help and support to the vulnerable, and now more than ever it is important we honour that.”

Eirini Agapidaki, Greek special secretary for the protection of unaccompanied minors, told the Guardian that Greece’s prime minister and the minister for migration had worked with the Home Office as well as Lord Dubs to ensure the reunions went ahead. “Among these people are children that will finally be with their siblings, men and women to finally be reunited with their spouses,” she said.

“It’s the collaborative teamwork that allows us to be effective in times of corona restrictions, a legacy that we need to sustain not just at national but also at the EU level.”

▻https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/may/11/refugee-families-reunited-in-uk-after-rescue-flight-from-greece

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Grèce #Transfert #Royaume-Uni

Two children transferred out of Malakasa, protection still denied to many

Following two requests for interim measures before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), two unaccompanied children from Syria aged 12 and 13 are finally transferred to a shelter for minors after over two months of confinement in unsafe conditions.

In March 2020, the two Syrian boys arrived in Greece unaccompanied. They were arrested and automatically placed in detention despite being recognised as minors. They were issued with detention and deportation orders and were detained among adults in degrading conditions pursuant to an emergency decree adopted on 2 March 2020 by the Greek government, which suspended access to asylum for one month and foresaw immediate deportation for those entering the Greek territory, without registration to their countries of origin or to Turkey. As a result of the decree, people arriving in Greece in March, including the two minors, were arbitrarily denied the right to make an asylum application and to benefit from the rights and entitlements conferred on asylum seekers by domestic and European Union law.

On 27 March 2020 RSA appealed before ECtHR, requesting the Court to indicate interim measures under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court for the protection of the two unaccompanied children and their transfer to suitable reception facilities.

Meanwhile, the two boys received on 7 April 2020 police referral notes informing them that they had been released from detention, although until the end of April no one was permitted to exit the facility.

Following correspondence between the Court and the government, on 15 April 2020 the ECtHR decided not to grant interim measures, on the ground that the government had already made commitments to ensure that the applicants would receive treatment in accordance with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Yet, the applicants had submitted information indicating that no change in their situation had taken place.

RSA lodged a fresh request for interim measures on 23 April 2020, following which the Court adjourned its decision and requested again the government to indicate “what concrete measures have been taken for the applicants’ transfer, as well as for the appointment of a guardian”.

The children were ultimately transferred to an accommodation place on 7 and 8 May respectively, that is over two months after their arrival in Greece.

While welcoming the applicants’ recent transfer to a shelter for minors, RSA regrettably notes that demanding litigation procedures and recourse before the Strasbourg Court for interim relief have become necessary to secure the consideration and protection of even the most basic rights of children. Recourse to the ECtHR is not accessible in every case of children at risk and cannot substitute a reliable and well-functioning child protection system, which remains a pressing need for Greece.

In April 2020, in a different case concerning a homeless unaccompanied boy living in destitution in a Greek city, the ECtHR again refused to grant interim measures requested under Rule 39 including the placement of the child in a shelter for minors. Until today the child still sleeps rough in the streets and the government has taken no measures for the child’s protection.

The predicament of the two boys leaving Malakasa this week illustrates the chronic gaps in the protection of unaccompanied children and the absence of an effective guardianship system in Greece. It is also testament to an increasing disregard on the part of the authorities of obligations enshrined in national, European and international law, and a failure to follow through on guarantees provided to the ECtHR.

RSA and PRO ASYL continue to defend the rights of the most vulnerable and will assist the children in their family reunification procedure with relatives in Germany.

▻https://rsaegean.org/en/two-children-transferred-out-of-malakasa-protection-still-denied-to-many

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Grèce #Camp #Malakasa #Mineursnonaccompagnés #Enfants #Transfert

La Grèce prolonge jusqu’au 7 juin le confinement des camps de migrants

Le ministère grec des Migrations a annoncé vendredi le prolongement jusqu’au 7 juin des mesures de confinement dans les camps de demandeurs d’asile, mises en place depuis plus de deux mois pour enrayer la pandémie du nouveau coronavirus.

« A la suite d’une décision des ministres de la Protection du citoyen, de la Santé et des Migrations, les mesures contre la propagation du virus Covid-19 sont prolongées pour les résidents des centres d’accueil et d’identification à travers le pays », selon un bref communiqué.

▻https://www.lnc.nc/breve/la-grece-prolonge-jusqu-au-7-juin-le-confinement-des-camps-de-migrants

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Grèce #Camp #Déconfinement #Prolongation

Info Park
Weekly
13 – 19 May 2020

Serbia
➢ On 14 May, Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar annulled the previous order that extended the lockdown for Reception and Asylum Centers in Serbia. (Official Gazette, no. 74/2020) As a result, all refugees and other migrants regained the right to freedom of movement in the country. Asylum office of the Serbian Interior Ministry will resume its operations on 1 June.
➢ In a stark contrast to above decision to relax the lockdown measures in all the camps, on 16 May Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ordered Serbian Army deployment in municipality Sid with 3 centers: Adasevci, Principovac and Sid city. Apparently, the decision is made following requests from the local municipality to prevent any incidents that occurred before corona epidemics, including petty crime, burglaries and illegal entry into abandoned buildings including farms or weekend houses in the area. The units belonging to the elite 72 Brigade for Special Operations of Serbian army are deployed on the same day, guarding 3 centers and patrolling in the town.
According to the SCRM, the migrants are allowed to leave all of these camps, however their stay outside after the 10PM curfew is not tolerated, and they are forced
to return to the camp. Various representatives of civil society criticized this decision heavily, claiming it is connected with the campaign for general elections in Serbia set for 21 June - especially given that no incidents are reported since lifting lockdown of Sid area camps.
Last week was marked by the swift return to “normality” regarding migrations in Serbia. Nearly 1,500 migrants managed to leave the camps since the end the state of
emergency, despite strong SCRM efforts to slow down the outflow with the partial restriction of freedom of movement with a system of quotas (for instance, in Krnjaca AC only 5 migrants per barrack were allowed to exit the premises). According to Serbian Commissar for refugees and migrations Vladimir Cucic, Serbian ACs and
RCs currently host 7,700 beneficiaries, with an estimation of at least 150 people on the move outside. At the peak of the state of emergency, the camps had over 9.100 accommodated people.
➢ Inflow of refugees and other migrants in the parks of Belgrade Savamala district is notable, with numbers rising from 120 on Wednesday to 270 on Sunday. Consequently, significant number of smugglers are also present in the area, seeking clients and brokering deals about irregular travel to the EU. As a result, there is a significant increase in attempts to cross the borders of Hungary and Romania. Push backs from Hungarian border peaked at 188 over the weekend. At the same time an apparent movement of Kurdish families is noticed towards or over the border with Romania. Read more on how the new border regime could influence people on the
move in this Weekly’s appendix “Protection of borders in times of crisis”.
➢ Around 50 right-wingers, mostly members of the extremist neo-nazi Levijatan movement, gathered outside the Obrenovac RTC on 13 May to protest in support to a
member of the organization who had forcibly driven into the camp the week before and was ordered 30-day detention.

Croatia
➢ Following the reports condemning the photos of physically marked refuges in Croatia last week, the Guardian published an article about this humiliating practice. However, the Croatian Ministry of Interior denied the accusations published in the UK paper dubbing that these accusations absurd and dangerous since they are
coming during the holy month of Ramadan.

Greece
➢ The program of relocation of unaccompanied children from Greek islands to other EU countries is scheduled to continue. Portugal is set to welcome 500 boys and girls
and dozens are ready for the relocation to Belgium. However, authorities have extended the lockdown of Greek refugee camps due to the corona virus pandemic.
➢ According to Alarm Phone, push-backs on the Aegean sea reportedly continued. Since early March 2020, Alarm Phone has received 28 emergency calls from the
Aegean and in most of these cases the distress resulted from attacks on boats carried out in Greek waters by various vigilante groups.

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Serbie #Déconfinement #Couvre-feu #Grèce #Refoulement #Relocalisation #Enfants #Croatie #Violencespolicières #

Grèce : deux migrants testés positifs au coronavirus sur l’île de Lesbos

Deux migrants arrivés début mai sur l’île grecque de Lesbos ont été testés positifs au Covid-19. Les autorités assurent que ces personnes n’ont eu aucun contact avec les quelque 18 000 migrants qui vivent dans le camp de Moria car ils avaient été placés en quarantaine dès leur arrivée.

Le ministère grec des Migrations a annoncé, mardi 12 mai, que deux migrants arrivés récemment à Lesbos ont été testés positifs au coronavirus.

Ces migrants font partie des 70 personnes qui ont débarqué sur l’île grecque les 6 et 10 mai. Ils avaient été placés en quarantaine dans un centre indépendant afin d’éviter tout contact avec d’autres demandeurs d’asile présents à Lesbos, notamment dans le camp de Moria où vivent 18 000 migrants.

« Il n’y a absolument aucun lien entre cette structure et celle de Moria », a assuré une source au ministère des Migrations.

Mortaza
MortazaBehboudi
Deux migrants arrivés à Lesbos mercredi dernier, ont été testés positifs du #COVID19. Ils sont 51 migrants en total, arrivés le 6 mai dernier. Les 19 migrants arrivées dimanche dernier ont également été emmenées dans la même zone de quarantaine.

Les deux demandeurs d’asile contaminés n’ont pas développé de symptômes, ont déclaré des responsables du centre. Des tests sont en cours sur les 68 autres migrants hébergés dans ce camp, mais également sur les personnes qui sont entrées en contact avec eux.

Ce sont les premiers cas de Covid-19 répertoriés dans un camp de migrants des îles grecques. Deux autres centres, celui de Malakasa et Ritsona, situés en Grèce continentale, ont en revanche été mis en quarantaine début avril après que des cas de coronavirus y ont été détectés. La ville de Kranidi, située à une centaine de kilomètres d’Athènes, a également été placée à l’isolement mi-avril après que 148 des 470 migrants hébergés dans un hôtel proche ont été testés positifs au nouveau coronavirus.

Les ONG redoutent l’arrivée du Covid-19 dans les camps surpeuplés des îles grecques. Dans un communiqué publié le 22 mars, l’organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) disait craindre « une crise de santé publique » dans ces camps. « Alors que le gouvernement grec oeuvre pour arrêter la propagation du virus, les images des conditions sordides dans les camps d’accueil et d’enregistrement à Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos et Leros montrent que les critères minimum de protection contre le Covid-19 ne sont pas respectés », avait alors déploré Belkis Wille, chercheuse auprès de la division Crises et conflits de HRW.

▻https://www.infomigrants.net/fr/post/24725/grece-deux-migrants-testes-positifs-au-coronavirus-sur-l-ile-de-lesbos

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Grèce #Lesbos #Contamination

RACISME – Croatie : la police accusée de violences contre les migrants

Selon plusieurs sources, des migrants ont été marqués à l’aide de bombes de peinture par les forces de l’ordre croates, entre le 6 et le 8 mai, alors qu’ils tentaient de pénétrer illégalement dans le pays, avant d’être refoulés en Bosnie. Ce geste est perçu par les migrants comme une humiliation.

À la frontière entre la Bosnie et la Croatie, ces dernières semaines, des migrants ayant tenté la traversée vers la Croatie ont été contraints de revenir sur leurs pas, le crâne peint d’une croix orange. Ces marques ont, selon eux, été tracées à l’aide de bombes de peinture par les forces de l’ordre croates, dans ce qu’ils estiment être une tactique d’humiliation et une manière d’empêcher leur entrée illégale dans le pays. La police croate, qui a affirmé son besoin de protéger ses frontières, ne s’est pas exprimée sur ces allégations.

Des photos obtenues par InfoMigrants et par le journal britannique The Guardian montrent ainsi les chevelures de migrants barrées de plusieurs traits de peinture épais. “On a été confrontés à trois groupes de migrants qui présentaient des croix peintes sur le crâne et des blessures”, explique à InfoMigrants Peter Van Der Auweraert, responsable de l’Organisation internationale des migrations (OIM) en Bosnie. Au total, 18 hommes seuls se sont présentés dans différents centres pour migrants affublés de ces marques de peinture après avoir tenté, en vain, de pénétrer en Croatie, selon le représentant de cette organisation.

Selon les migrants, ces croix sont une tactique d’humiliation de la part des forces de l’ordre croates. Crédit : DRSelon les migrants, ces croix sont une tactique d’humiliation de la part des forces de l’ordre croates. Crédit : DR
“Il y a d’abord eu un groupe de neuf personnes, la tête peinte, qui sont venues au camp de Miral, dans la ville de Vledika Kladusa (nord de la Bosnie, NDLR) le 7 mai. Un second groupe de sept personnes présentant des caractéristiques similaires est ensuite arrivé le même jour au camp Lipa à Bihac (nord-ouest de la Bosnie, NDLR). Puis, le 8 mai, deux personnes supplémentaires sont également arrivées dans le même état à Bihac”, poursuit Peter Van Der Auweraert, qui précise que les personnes blessées ont depuis été soignées.

Selon des sources citées par le journal The Guardian, un autre groupe de migrants – avec lequel était en contact l’ONG No Name Kitchen, active en Bosnie – avait déjà été repéré le 6 mai après avoir été refoulé à la frontière, dépouillé de leur téléphone ainsi que de leur argent, et aspergé de peinture orange.

“Les migrants pensent qu’il s’agit de croix chrétiennes”
La signification probable de ces actes apparaît sujette à interprétation. “Les migrants à qui cela est arrivé et que nous avons rencontrés pensent qu’il s’agit de croix chrétiennes. Ces migrants sont majoritairement musulmans et, selon eux, ces croix ont été peintes sur leur crâne pour les humilier”, explique Peter Van Der Auweraert, en ajoutant qu’il incombe désormais aux autorités croates de “mener des investigations pour vérifier ces allégations et saisir la justice si besoin”.

Jack Sapoch, membre de l’ONG No Name Kitchen, cité dans les colonnes du Guardian, évoque quant à lui la possibilité que ces marquages servent à “repérer ceux qui ont tenté de traverser la frontière”. Une manière discutable, donc, de gérer le flux de personnes alors qu’environ 6 000 migrants sont actuellement bloqués en Bosnie dans l’espoir de réussir à passer en Croatie, et ainsi dans l’Union européenne.

Longue série d’accusations contre la police croate
Ces nouvelles allégations s’ajoutent en tout cas à une longue série d’accusations pesant déjà contre les forces de l’ordre croates alors que les migrants dénoncent régulièrement des violences systématiques à leur encontre. Depuis 2016, plusieurs ONG alertent sur des cas d’abus de la part des policiers, certains ayant engendré des fractures, aux frontières de la Croatie. La police croate renvoie par ailleurs ces candidats à l’exil sans même leur permettre de demander l’asile en Europe.

“Nous recevons depuis assez longtemps des informations concernant des renvois illégaux, des problèmes de prises en compte de demandes d’asile, une utilisation excessive de la force, etc (…) nous sommes très inquiets”, affirme pour sa part Zoran Stevanovic, représentant du Haut-commissariat pour les réfugiés (HCR) pour l’Europe centrale. Il ajoute avoir eu vent de ces cas de migrants marqués à la bombe de peinture. “Une gestion effective des frontières n’est pas incompatible avec le respect des droits des demandeurs d’asile. Nous avons demandé au gouvernement croate d’enquêter sur toutes ces accusations de violences et d’abus.”

▻https://diasporaenligne.net/racisme-croatie-la-police-accusee-de-violences-contre-les-migrants

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Croatie #Frontière #Violencespolicières

Info Park
Weekly 6 – 12 May 2020

Serbia
➢ Following the global trend of relaxing COVID-19 prevention measures, Serbian Parliament annulled the 53-days long state of emergency on May 6. The “New normal” came into force for citizens on May 7 following the publishing in the Official Gazette, however it does not applied for the refugee and migrant population in Serbia. They remained locked in 20 camps as, on the same day, Minister of Health Zlatibor Lončar passed the “Order on restriction of movement at access to open spaces, reception centers for migrants and asylum centers”. The order states that “the beneficiaries of reception and asylum centers for migrants shall be prohibited to leave
the centers. Exceptionally and in justified cases (visit to doctor, etc.), the migrants shall be allowed to leave the ACs and RCs with special and time-limited approval of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration”. Because of the measures, Serbian army corps (that kept the camps sealed during the state of emergency) withdrew, but
the police forces including gendarmerie came in instead, keeping the centers locked.
➢ The above decision was universally and widely criticized by numerous NGOs & INGOs, both publicly and unofficially, accusing Serbian authorities of expanding the scope of migrants’ discrimination already severely present during the emergency
state. Initiative A11 and Belgrade Center for Human Rights both submitted appeals to the Constitutional Court calling for the annulation of the decree and momentary unlock of the refugee and migrant population.
➢ For many observers, the extension of migrants’ centers lockdown came as the State’s attempt to prevent thousands who are expected to leave the centers in a bid to reach Belgrade or North-West borders as soon as possible, but also to prevent incidents with radicalized anti-migrant groups now openly and freely calling for violence.
However, the situation in many camps was described as “peaceful but tense”. As of May 9, SCRM staff in some of the government-run shelters started letting those accommodated in them leave the premises with a special permission, however some first runaways are also noted, both individual and in smaller groups. Apart from
that, Serbia’s RCs and ACs did not see much change following the relaxation of measures. Most of them remain overcrowded accommodating around 9,000 asylum seekers and other migrants, including 1,179 children (617 unaccompanied boys)
under inadequate guardianship. During last week, Subotica RC was restored under the SCRM management and currently serves 209 single men, including those who are pushed back from the borders. The number of pushbacks from Hungary jumped to 48 for one-week time, ranging from 3 to 12 per day compared to previous weeks
when there were no recorded attempts to cross the Hungarian border
➢ The culmination of migrant-scapegoating in Serbia occurred last week with an incident in Obrenovac RC when a local man broke into the camp with his car. During the outburst of ethnic hate and islamophobia, the perpetrator filmed himself live on You Tube in a manner of New Zealand mosque mass killer Brenton Tarrant. He was
detained for 48 hours and released with a mild charge. An employee of the city Info Park Weekly 06-12 May 2020 3
council, he is close to the ruling party, currently a member of an extremist movement “Levijatan”. He stated he was inspired by fake news coming from Facebook group called “Stop the settling of migrants” mostly posting fake or outdated news.
Moreover, over the weekend, another extremist groups lead by “People’s patrols”
protested in Belgrade downtown against migrant “invasion”, vaccination, and 5G
network under the slogan “We won’t give away Serbia” (Ne damo Srbiju). Last but not least, other right wing groups lead by “Levijatan” are scheduled to hold an antimigrant rally at the gates of Obrenovac RC on Wednesday May 13. Numerous, nonrestricted extremists’ events in Serbia can only be understood as an acceleration of
right-wing campaign for general elections set for June 21

Croatia
➢ Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Croatian border police continued with illegal expulsion of asylum seekers from the Croatian territory. This well-coordinated practice reached new, unprecedented proportions last week. Namely, according to the latest testimonies and photos, the police have been humiliating people by physically marking them with an orange cross sprayed all over their heads.

Greece
➢ Border Violence Monitoring Network, BVMN, has released firsthand testimony and photographic evidence indicating the existence of violent collective expulsions of migrants including robbery, beatings with the use of batons and tasers, and stripping of clothes. Within six weeks the network has collected reports of 194 people removed
and pushed back into Turkey from the camp in Diavata and the Drama Paranesti preremoval detention center.
➢ The Greek government continued denying the claims coming from the German paper Der Spiegel according to which a Pakistani national had been shot dead, possibly by Greek soldiers, while attempting to cross from Turkey into Greece two months ago.

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Serbie #Croatie #Grèce #Déconfinement #Xénophobie #Refoulement #Violence #Expulsions

La #Serbie envoie l’#armée à #Šid

L’armée serbe est intervenue samedi soir à Šid, près de la frontière croate, pour contrôler à titre préventif trois centres d’accueil, #Adaševci, #Principovac et #Šid-Stanica, où se trouvent un peu moins 2000 réfugiés. Au cours de la nuit, 18 personnes ont été arrêtées et renvoyées vers les centres, a déclaré à la RTS le maire de Šid, Zoran Semenović. Le Président Aleksandar Vučić a ordonné le recours à une partie des forces armées afin d’aider le ministère de l’Intérieur à sécuriser les centres d’asile et d’accueil.

►https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Les-dernieres-infos-Refugies-Balkans-Bosnie-Herzegovine-un-nouvea
#Sid #militarisation_des_frontières #route_des_balkans #Balkans #réfugiés #frontières #migrations #Croatie #sécurisation (sic) #sécurité #centres_d'accueil #Adasevci #Sid-Stanica #camps #camps_de_réfugiés

Special Report: #COVID-19 and Border Violence along the Balkan Route

https://www.borderviolence.eu/wp-content/uploads/Photo-from-Scam-2-e1589281949400-428x600.jpg

The #Border_Violence_Monitoring_Network are publishing a feature report on the intersection of the current health crisis and border management. This new report shares first hand testimony of people-on-the-move who are experiencing the COVID-19 lockdown in transit. Its scope looks at the way restrictive measures disproportionately affect vulnerable persons in camps and at borders. Further, analysis of various countries from the region shows how COVID-19 measures have also been utilised to shape and erode the fundamental rights of these communities. Approaching the topic of COVID-19 as a period used to stage rights suspensions, some of the developments explored in this report include:

–The deployment of military forces at borders and camps is a core feature of the securitised response to COVID-19. This was seen with proposals made by the Slovenian government to increase the army’s remit in the border area and the garrisoning of camps in Serbia.

–The development of pushback practice in countries such as Croatia has shown a disturbing turn. Augmentation of border violence as a result of the pandemic appeared with the crude paint tagging of transit groups near Velika Kladusa. Meanwhile two officers actively involved in pushbacks in the Topusko area were tested positive for COVID-19, putting people-on-the-move at direct risk of contracting the virus at the hand of perpetrating officers..

–Collective expulsions from camps has rapidly become a new concern for people in centres in Greece and Serbia. The lockdown measures were used on multiple occasions as an excuse to perform large scale pushbacks from inner city camps and centres hosting asylum seekers.

–Inadequate accommodation facilities are an ongoing concern for transit groups denied the basic means to exercise relevant health protocols. Across the Balkan Route and Greece, the sealing of centres marked disproportionate deprivations of liberty and wilful neglect of hygienic standards by states and the European Union.

▻https://www.borderviolence.eu/special-report-covid-19-and-border-violence-along-the-balkan-route
#violence #frontières #Balkans #route_des_Balkans #migrations #asile #réfugiés #violent_borders #violence_aux_frontières #rapport #armée #militarisation_des_frontières #Serbie #Slovénie #push-back #push-backs #refoulement #refoulements #Velika_Kladusa #Topusko #Grèce #confinement #camps_de_réfugiés #hébergement

ping @luciebacon

#Incendies dans les #camps_de_réfugiés (ou autres lieux d’hébergement de demandeurs d’asile et réfugiés) en #Grèce. Tentative de #métaliste, non exhaustive...

Les incendies sont rassemblés ici en ordre chronologique, mais attention à faire la distinction entre ceux qui ont lieu :
– par accident
– comme geste de #protestation de la part des réfugiés entassés dans ces camps surpeuplés et insalubres
– par main de l’#extrême_droite

#réfugiés #asile #migrations #feu #incendie #anti-réfugiés #racisme #xénophobie #révolte #résistance

–-> + un incendie qui a eu lieu en décembre 2020 en #Bosnie (#route_des_Balkans / #Balkans)

ping @isskein

Greece to lift restrictions in May and June

Greece’s Civil Protection Deputy Minister for Crisis Management, Nikos Hardalias in his televised briefing on Thursday announced the gradual lifting of restrictions from May.

Hardalias clarified that although the restriction measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic are extended from April 27 to May 4, “the next phase will be the gradual return to normalcy,” adding that relaxing the measures would then proceed in two phases in May and June, in two-week increments.

He noted that every day remains difficult, referring indirectly to earlier events, when coronavirus cases were identified at private clinics in the south and western suburbs of Athens in the last 20 hours.

Among other updates, the Minister noted that a section of the Roma community in Nea Smyrni, central Greece, and other areas in the region where coronavirus infections were located will continue to remain in lockdown until April 30.

In Thessaly, all open-air markets that were shut down will be able to operate as of Saturday (April 25), as the quarantine period will be completed. In addition, Mesopotamia community in northern Greece will complete its quarantine on Friday.

In Kranidi, the Argolid area, the second batch of tests taken (177) were all negative for coronavirus, but the area will keep its curfew. A coronavirus outbreak in a hotel hosting refugees in the area is on lockdown as of April 16.

The pandemic has been subsiding in Greece, he said, “but the war is not yet won.”

▻https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/04/24/greece-to-lift-restrictions-in-may-and-june

#Covid-19 #Migration #Migrant #Balkans #Grèce #Péloponnèse #Hotel #Quarantaine #Ville #Kranidi #Couvre-feu #Quarantaine #Confinement

The other sad news arriving from Serbia concerns the boat which capsized on the Danube, on the Serbian-Romanian border. The boat was carrying 16 migrants from various countries and was piloted by 2 people-smugglers. Two persons drowned after the capsizing, eight were declared missing, and eight were saved.

Reçu via la mailing-list Inicijativa Dobrodosli, mail du 29.04.2020

PREVRNUO SE ČAMAC NA DUNAVU Na rumunskoj granici poginuo Srbin, za osmoro se traga

https://i.imgur.com/bGWjskC.png

Jedna osoba je poginula, a osam osoba se vode kao nestale nakon što se na Dunavu, na granici sa Srbijom i Rumunijom prevrnuo čamac.

Prema izjavi rumunske policije, čamac se prevrnuo u noći između četvrtka i petka, nakon što su migranti napustili Srbiju, i to kada su putnici ustali, jer je voda počela da prodire u plovilo, prenosi “lavanguardia”.

Šesnaest migranata iz raznih zemalja i dvojica osumnjičena za trafiking, srpske nacionalnosti, bili su na tom čamcu, kako prenose rumunski mediji.

Spaseni su četvorica Sirijaca, dvojica Iračana, Jermen, Palestinac i Srbin, pre nego što je otkriveno da je jedan od putnika, takođe iz Sriije, mrtav.

▻https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/prevrnuo-se-camac-na-dunavu-na-rumunskoj-granici-poginuo-srbin-za-osmoro-se-traga/k5p50m0

#décès #morts #mourir_aux_frontières #Balkans #asile #migrations #réfugiés #morts_aux_frontières #Danube #Serbie #Roumanie #fleuve #rivière

–---

Autres articles de presse sur l’événement:
▻https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/sprecena-tragedija-vatrogasci-spasli-pecarose-kod-trstenika-prevrnuo-se-camac/hz555b9
▻https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/tragedija-na-dunavu-iz-reke-izvucena-tela-dve-zene-jos-se-traga-za-cetiri-utopljenika/nns59sn
▻https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/prevrnuo-se-camac-na-dunavu-utopilo-se-sest-osoba-od-kojih-dvoje-dece/035t7zx

ping @isskein

Danas prijem prvih migranata u novi kamp Lipa

https://i.imgur.com/l13ZV8c.png

Iako je Gradsko vijeće #Bihać prihvatilo Lipu kao novu lokaciju za smještaj migranata još u studenom prošle godine, vlasti u Bosni i Hercegovini su svoju suglasnost dale tek nakon proglašenja pandemije koronavirusa u BiH, kako bi se sa ulica krajiških gradova izmjestilo nekoliko tisuća migranata.

Iako je prvo izmještanje migranata najavljeno još u ožujku, ipak do toga nije došlo. Prema zvaničnim najavama, danas se očekuje prijem prvih migranata u novi kamp Lipa, tako da se intenzivno radi na osposobljavanju kampa. Na ovoj lokaciji je postavljeno 50 šatora u koje bi trebalo biti smješteno 1000 migranata.

ŠUHRET FAZLIĆ, gradonačelnik Bihaća

“Odvija se projekat koji je sigurno na prostoru Balkana možda najveći građevinski poduhvat. Ko nije bio gore ne može znati šta se dešava. Gore je milionska investicij. Prije 15 dana gore je bila samo livada, sada gore se stvaraju kapaciteti za smještaj skoro 1000 migranata”, rekao je Fazlić.

S obzirom na to da vlasti ne žele da se ponovi slika sa Vučjaka, otvaranje kampa Lipa kasni. Riješeno je pitanje struje, vode i odvodnje, još se čeka zeleno svjetlo od zdravstvenog sektora.

Iz kantonalnog Zavoda za javno zdravstvo ističu da svaki dan dobijaju izvještaje od DRC-a i IOM-a o zdravstvenom stanju migranata koji se nalaze u prihvatnim centrima. Na ulazu u Lipu će se raditi trijaža migranata, a bit će osposobljen i karantin.

Epidemiolog ZARINA MULABDIĆ, direktorica Zavoda za javno zdravstvo

“Zadovoljni smo sa onim zatečenim gore. Samo treba da se još to do kraja provede, nešto u vezi infrastrukture što se treba nadopuniti. To će biti jedno sjajno rješenje, ni nalik na Vučjak, na koji sam ja dala negativno mišljenje kao epidemiolog”, kazala je Mulabdić.

Lipa je prvenstveno namijenjena za prihvat migranata koji se nalaze na ulicama Bihaća i nemaju osnovne uvjete za život dostojan čovjeka.

MUSTAFA RUŽNIĆ, premijer USK

“Kapacitet je za sada 1000 migranata. Vidjet ćemo kako će se razvijati situacija. Vidjeli ste, to je jedan mali grad po svim standardima”, istakao je Ružnić.

Еpidemiolog ZARINA MULABDIĆ, direktorica Zavoda za javno zdravstvo

Cilj nam je da ovo što nam je na ulici stavimo na Lipu tako da imamo nadzor, dodala je Mulabdić.

Iz Ministarstva unutrašnjih poslova Unsko-sanskog kantona kažu da su spremni za izmještanje migranata, kako onih s ulica Bihaća, tako i onih koji privremeni krov nad glavom nalaze u napuštenim objektima.

NERMIN KLjAJIĆ, ministar unutrašnjih poslova USK

“Na taj način ćemo ispoštovati odluku Vijeća ministara o apsolutnoj zabrani kretanja. Smatram da se nekih 400 do 500 migranata u ovoj sedmici može premjestiti gore na tu lokaciju, objasnio je Kljajić.

Građani Bihaća su u samoizolaciji dok migranti čekajući svoje premještanje slobodno šetaju gradskim ulicama. Bez osnovnih higijenskih i zdravstvenih uvjeta, otvorena su prijetnja za širene pandemije koronavirusa.

►https://bhrt.ba/1134278/danas-prijem-prvih-migranata-u-novi-kamp-lipa

#Bosnie #asile #migrations #réfugiés #camps #route_des_Balkans #Balkans

–---

Commentaire via la mailing-list Inicijativa Dobrodosli, mail du 29.04.2020:

Most of the funds used to finance the construction were awarded by the EU, while the camp will be run by the #IOM and the #DRC. The camp is situated 22km from the city of Bihać, without a connecting road, which would mean it is, in essence, isolated peripheral accommodation. In addition, there is no wastewater infrastructure, which in time will certainly begin to create certain problems for people living there.

For a long while, BH has not been a good place for refugees and other migrants – as confirmed by this week’s news about the protest in #Bira (▻https://www.facebook.com/groups/144469886266984/permalink/548667525847216) and the letter signed by 70 persons from #Miral (►https://www.facebook.com/transbalkanskasolidarnost/photos/a.121803256103331/130375228579467/?type=3&theater). These are reactions of people on the move to the hardships they have to suffer every day, and which are becoming unbearable. Meanwhile, police violence on the borders is not ceasing, continuing with equal levels of brutality and injustice (reprezent.ba/video-zivot-na-divlje-u-divljim-kampovima-velike-kladuse).

#Danish_Refugee_Council #OIM #violences_policières #violence #isolement #périphérie #hébergement

Le #camp de #Nea_Kavala en #Grèce

Dans l’Union européenne, certains camps pour personnes étrangères sont dits « ouverts » : les habitants sont libres d’y rester ou non, en attendant une réponse à leur demande d’asile – dans les faits, ils n’ont pas vraiment le droit ni les moyens de s’installer ailleurs.

https://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1488/files/2020/04/Image-1.png

Le 28 février 2016, la création de ce camp intervient dans un contexte de #fermetures_des_frontières dans les #Balkans, et du besoin de répartir les habitants du camp d’#Idomeni. 3520 personnes sont alors transférées vers des tentes disposées sur le tarmac de l’aéroport militaire « Asimakopoulou »[1], pour une capacité d’accueil estimée à 2500 personnes. Sur le bitume, les personnes sont exposées aux vents et aux températures parfois extrêmes. Elles attendront le mois de novembre pour que des containers soient mis en place.

Quatre ans plus tard, le camp est toujours là. L’Organisation Internationale pour les Migrations (OIM) considère Nea Kavala comme une « installation d’accueil de long terme » ; et y transfère notamment des réfugiés depuis le camp de Moria à Lesbos[2].

Les habitants ont eu le temps de réaliser des « travaux d’agrandissement » sur certains containers (© Louis Fernier)

La vie s’est organisée à la marge de la société grecque. Des personnes migrantes sont isolées, bloquées dans un lieu initialement prévu pour que des avions décollent et atterrissent. Sur le tarmac, les préfabriqués ont été installés « de façon à contenir les effets des rafales de vent » ; les personnes « accueillies » partagent des sanitaires extérieurs l’été comme l’hiver, et une unique source d’eau potable située à l’entrée du camp. Si elles le souhaitent, elles sont toutefois libres de marcher 5 KM le long d’une voie rapide pour atteindre la première pharmacie. Sur place, nos observations nous ont permis de réaliser la carte ci-après :

https://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1488/files/2020/04/Image-3-1024x742.png

Ce croquis illustre comment la vie prend forme dans un tel environnement. Les ressources et acteurs clés se situent presque exclusivement à l’entrée, dans le nord du camp.

L’Etat grec a délégué la majeure partie des tâches de coordination au Danish Refugee Council. Les ministères de l’éducation et de la santé restent toutefois censés accomplir leurs missions respectives. Hélas, la majorité des enfants ne sont scolarisés que la moitié de la semaine, et le médecin du camp n’est présent que 15 heures par semaine. Deux associations non-gouvernementales, « Drop in the Ocean » et We Are Here », sont présentes au quotidien pour soutenir les personnes encampées. C’est au sein de We Are Here que nous effectuons une enquête de terrain depuis deux mois. Composée uniquement de bénévoles, cette association gère un espace social, organise des cours d’Anglais et de musique, et des activités pour les plus jeunes. Elle tient aussi un centre d’informations et un espace réservé aux femmes. Au quotidien, elle s’active dans un univers interculturel, comme le montre la diversité des nationalités présentes depuis 2016, et la nécessité de s’adapter en continue.

Être bénévole à We Are Here, c’est aussi travailler dans un milieu en perpétuel mouvement : la population connait des fluctuations parfois très soudaines.

https://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1488/files/2020/04/Image-4_5_bis-1024x270.png

Si la population n’a plus dépassé la capacité du camp depuis sa création, elle a connu certains pics – à la fin de l’été 2019 notamment. Les conditions de vie paraissaient alors peu dignes pour un « site d’accueil de long terme ». Une personne réfugiée témoignait le 02 septembre 2019 :

“Nea Kavala Camp is one of hell’s chosen spots in Greece. And to think that this government sees it as a suitable place for vulnerable refugees shows to me how much it must hate us. Nobody should be expected to stay there.”

Depuis le 12 mars 2020, les mesures de protection face au Covid-19 ont entraîné l’arrêt des activités de We Are Here ; cependant, nous sommes toujours en observation depuis le village voisin, en contact avec les habitants du camp. Et la crise sanitaire n’a pas freiné les travaux d’aménagement de Nea Kavala, en prévision de l’accueil de 1000 personnes transférées depuis l’île de Lesbos.

https://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1488/files/2020/04/Image-6.png

A l’intérieur de ces tentes, les familles sont aujourd’hui réparties par petites salles. Un habitant nous rapporte que « l’on y entend les voisins, c’est très serré. Il y a une table, quatre chaises et quatre lits pour toute une famille ».

https://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1488/files/2020/04/Image-7.png

Nea Kavala compte 372 arrivées depuis la fin du mois de février, dans le contexte actuel de pandémie mondiale. Le Danish Refugee Council estime que 700 nouvelles personnes arriveront encore d’ici l’été. Les locaux de We Are Here et de Drop in the Ocean ont été demandés pour organiser de potentielles mises en quarantaine. En attendant d’y retourner, nous espérons que le virus épargnera le camp ; et que l’ennui, l’isolement et les conditions d’accueil ainsi décrites n’entraineront pas de tensions. Nous retenons notre souffle.

►https://mi.hypotheses.org/2122
#transferts #migrerrance #immobilité #Grèce_continentale #frontières #Thessalonique #Polykastro #Asimakopoulou #OIM #IOM #temporaire #isolement #marginalité #marges #aéroport #tarmac #préfabriqués #croquis #cartographie #visualisation #Danish_Refugee_Council #déscolarisation #accès_aux_soins #Drop_in_the_Ocean #We_are_here

Migranti lungo la Rotta, quarantena permanente versione testuale

A partire da marzo, mano a mano che il coronavirus dilagava per l’Europa, alcuni stati disposti lungo la dorsale balcanica hanno messo in atto provvedimenti che hanno interessato non solamente la popolazione locale, ma anche e soprattutto la popolazione migrante che vive all’interno dei centri di transito e per richiedenti asilo, allestiti e istituiti lungo la cosiddetta Rotta balcanica a partire dal 2016.
Dopo il 2015, anno della “crisi dei rifugiati”, che ha visto arrivare in Unione europea quasi un milione di persone (di cui oltre 850 mila transitate dalla Grecia), a partire da marzo 2016 la Rotta balcanica è stata dichiarata ufficialmente chiusa, in base al controverso accordo turco-europeo, che prevede fondamentalmente che la Turchia – in cambio di 6 miliardi di euro versati dall’Ue e di un’accelerazione nelle trattative legate all’ingresso in Europa – gestisca i quasi 4 milioni di richiedenti asilo che si trovano nel suo territorio.
Di fatto, però, quell’accordo (in realtà una dichiarazione congiunta tra le parti coinvolte) non ha fermato il flusso di persone on the move, ma lo ha solamente rallentato e reso più pericoloso; si calcola, in effetti, che tra il 2016 e il 2019 siano comunque passate circa 160 mila persone lungo questo corridoio migratorio.

Confini incandescenti
I paesi maggiormente interessati dalla presenza dei migranti in transito sono Grecia, Serbia e – a partire dal 2018 – Bosnia Erzegovina, diventata nella zona nord-occidentale il collo di bottiglia prima di entrare in Croazia e da lì nei Paesi Shengen, la meta cui maggiormente aspirano le persone, che provengono principalmente da Afghanistan, Pakistan, Siria, Iran e Iraq.
Poco prima che la pandemia prendesse piede a livello globale, a partire da fine febbraio, la Rotta balcanica era tornata sui principali giornali e siti di notizie, perchè il presidente turco Recep Tayyp Erdo?an aveva annunciato di aver aperto i confini del paese ai migranti intenzionati a raggiungere l’Europa. Quella che sino a poco tempo prima sembrava solo una minaccia si è fatta realtà; nel giro di pochi giorni almeno 10 mila persone hanno raggiunto il confine terrestre tra Turchia e Grecia e hanno provato a sfondare i cordoni di sicurezza greci, trovando una risposta violenta, anche con il sostegno delle polizie e dei militari di altri governi europei.
La situazione incandescente sul confine, che faceva immaginare uno scenario simile a quello del 2015, con migliaia di persone in transito lungo la rotta, si è però interrotta bruscamente con l’arrivo del virus e le misure di chiusura, limitazione di movimento e autoisolamento messe in atto in pratica da quasi tutti gli stati del mondo.
Gli stati posti lungo la Rotta balcanica hanno non solo imposto misure restrittive alla popolazione locale, ma hanno chiuso la popolazione migrante all’interno dei campi, dispiegando forze speciali a controllarne i perimetri: nessuna nuova persona entra e nessuno esce, in una quarantena permanente.

Prendono la strada dei boschi
In Grecia si calcola una presenza di oltre 118 mila tra rifugiati e richiedenti asilo; circa 20 mila abitano nei 30 campi dislocati sul continente, molti vivono in appartamenti o shelter e oltre 38 mila sono bloccati nei campi ufficiali e informali sulle isole di Lesvos, Chios, Samos e Kos.
In Serbia sono oltre 8.500 i richiedenti asilo e i migranti distribuiti nei 17 centri in gestione governativa all’interno del paese. Durante il mese di marzo polizia ed esercito locali hanno portato le persone che vivevano negli squat delle periferie di Belgrado e di Šid all’interno dei campi, che sono ora sovraffollati.
Infine si calcola che in Bosnia Erzegovina ci siano circa 5.500 persone alloggiate in 9 campi per l’accoglienza, ma che almeno 2 mila vivano dormendo in edifici e fabbriche abbandonati o in tende e accampamenti di fortuna nei boschi lungo i confini con la Croazia. L’ampia presenza di persone che vivono fuori dai campi ufficiali ha fatto sì che il 17 aprile il consiglio dei ministri della Bosnia Erzegovina decidesse che ogni straniero che non ha un documento di identità valido e un indirizzo di residenza registrato presso l’ufficio stranieri del comune di competenza, verrà obbligatoriamente portato nei centri di ricezione, dove dovrà risiedere senza possibilità di uscire.
Per questo motivo già dalle settimane precedenti, in località Lipa, cantone di Una Sana, territorio di Bihac, sono stati avviati di gran lena i lavori per mettere in piedi un nuovo centro temporaneo di transito. Il campo, costituito da ampi tendoni in cerata con letti a castello, container sanitari e toilette chimiche, è stato fortumente voluto dalla municipalità di Bihac per spostare dalle strade e da edifici diroccati le migliaia di persone che vagano tra le rovine senza cibo, acqua corrente, elettricità e vestiti. A partire dalla mattina del 21 aprile sono iniziati in maniera pacifica i trasporti dei migranti, scortati dalla polizia locale, al nuove centro in gestione all’Organizzazione mondiale dei migranti e al Danish Refugee Council. Al tempo stesso, decine di persone che non vogliono vivere nei centri e rimanere bloccate in quarantena a tempo indeterminato, hanno deciso di prendere la strada dei boschi e tentare di andare verso la Croazia o rimanere tra le foreste, in attesa che si allentino nei paesi europei le misure anti-Covid.
Le preoccupazioni nutrite dalle diverse organizzazioni non governative e associazioni in tutti i contesti citati sono le medesime: i campi sono sovraffolati e non permettono di prevenire la diffusione del contagio, in molti centri i servizi igienici e i presidi sanitari sono insufficienti, in alcune realtà l’acqua non è potabile e fondamentalmente è impossibile mantenere le distanze. Le persone passano le giornate chiuse dentro strutture nella maggior parte dei casi fatiscenti, costrette a lunghe file per ricevere i pasti e sotto il controllo o della polizia e dell’esercito (come in Serbia e Grecia), che impediscono i tentativi di fuga dai campi, o delle imprese di sorveglianza private nei campi in Bosnia (campi gestiti da Iom, a differenza di Serbia e Grecia, dove sono in gestione governativa).
Naturalmente, se già per la popolazione locale è difficile trovare mascherine usa e getta e guanti, per i migranti nei campi è pressochè impossibile, al punto che sia in Grecia che in Serbia, in alcuni dei centri i migranti hanno cominciato a cucire mascherine in stoffa, per la popolazione dei campi ma anche per la popolazione locale, supportati da alcune organizzazioni.
In tutti i campi le organizzazioni che non si occupano di servizi primari, ma per esempio di interventi psico-sociali come Caritas, hanno dovuto sospendere o modificare le loro attività e instaurare una modalità di lavoro degli staff a rotazione, per preservare i propri operatori.

Distanziamento impossibile
Nonostante in Serbia e in Bosnia Erzegovina non siano stati ufficialmente accertati casi di persone positive al Covid19 tra i migranti nei centri, la stessa cosa non si può dire della Grecia, dove sono scoppiati almeno tre focolai, il primo a Ritsona, una ex base militare a 70 chilometri da Atene, che ospita oltre 3 mila persone, il secondo nel campo di Malakasa, dove è stato trovato un caso positivo tra gli oltre 1.600 residenti, il terzo nel sud della Grecia, a Kranidi, dove 150 su 497 persone di un ostello che ospita famiglie monogenitoriali sono risultate positive al test. In tutti i casi i campi sono stati posti in totale isolamento e quarantena per 14 giorni, e le persone non sono autorizzate a uscire dai loro container, stanze o tende. Per evitare che il fenomeno esploda soprattutto nei contesti come le isole, dove i campi sono sovraffolati e le condizioni di vita più miserevoli, il governo greco ha previsto lo spostamento di almeno 2.300 persone considerate più vulnerabili al virus sulla terraferma, in appartamenti, hotel e altri campi.
In generale le reazioni dei migranti alle misure che sono state messe in atto sono state simili in tutti i luoghi. In primis vi è la sincera preoccupazione di ammalarsi nei campi; le persone sono consapevoli che igiene e misure di distanziamento sociale sono impossibili da tenere. Per fare un esempio, il Bira, un campo in Bosnia Erzegovina per uomini single e minori non accompagnati, che ha una capacità ufficiale di 1.500 persone, ne ospita più di 1.800 e nei container abitativi vivono non 6 persone, ma almeno il doppio. In luoghi così è impossibile fisicamente mettere in atto tutte le procedure necessarie a evitare il contagio.
Altro punto che risulta particolarmente frustrante, soprattutto nei campi in Serbia e in Bosnia Erzegovina, è l’impossibilità di uscire fisicamente dai centri. Questo significa non poter esercitare nessuna libertà di movimento, non poter andare a comprare beni e cibo, magari non necessari per la sopravvivenza, ma di aiuto per resistere psicologicamente. Significa non poter andare a ritirare i soldi che i parenti mandano tramite Western Union e Money gram e ovviamente significa non poter tentare il game, il “gioco” di recarsi a piedi, da soli o guidati dai trafficanti, verso i confini, per cercare di valicarli.

Gli interventi Caritas e Ipsia
La frustrazione di rimanere bloccati a tempo indeterminato è molto alta; in molti dei campi sono scoppiate risse a volte anche molto violente, tra gli stessi migranti ma anche con le forze di polizia e di sicurezza preposte al controllo dei centri. Questi episodi, in Bosnia Erzegovina, sono avvenuti tra i minori non accompagnati del campo Bira, al Miral di Velika Kladuša, a Blažuj vicino a Sarajevo. Stesse dinamiche, con conseguente intervento pesante della security, a Krnja?a, Preševo e Adaševci in Serbia.
Le organizzazioni impegnate nei centri per migranti potrebbero avere un importante ruolo di stress-relief (supporto in situazione di pressione psicologica) in un contesto di frustrazioni e violenze così diffuse, ma le organizzazioni che gestiscono i campi e i governi locali preferiscono una dimesione di chiusura quasi totale, senza capire che sarebbe importante prevenire la crescita di ulteriori tensioni.
Caritas e Ipsia Acli, partner dei progetti lungo la rotta dei Balcani dal 2016, continuano – nella misura del possibile – le loro attività in Grecia, Serbia e Bosnia. Gli operatori locali sono portavoce e testimoni dei bisogni delle persone; anche se, a seguito dell’emergenza sanitaria, i ragazzi e le ragazze in Servizio civile all’estero hanno dovuto tornare in patria per non rimanere bloccati, e ciò ha tolto forze ed energie ai team locali, gli operatori sul terreno continuano il supporto alla popolazione migrante lungo la Rotta. Un piccolo apporto, in un mare di bisogni, ma il segno di un’attenzione e una prossimità che non devono essere cancellate dal virus.

▻https://www.caritas.it/home_page/attivita_/00008790_Migranti_lungo_la_Rotta__quarantena_permanente.html

#route_des_balkans #Balkans #Grèce #Croatie #campement #hébergement #camps #forêt #masques #distanciation_sociale #Grèce #Serbie #Bosnie #fermeture_des_frontières #frontières #coronavirus #covid-19 #Lipa #Bihac #OIM #IOM #Danish_Refugee_Council #Ritsona #Athènes #Malakasa #Kranidi #Bira #confinement #liberté_de_mouvement #Miral #Velika_Kladuša #Velika_Kladusa #Blažuj #Blazuj #Preševo #Adaševci #Krnja #Presevo #Adasevci

ping @luciebacon

AYS Daily Digest 22/04/20 ~300 people protest in Moria for safety against COVID-19

GREECE
There is reporting that Wednesday evening two people were shot after guns were fired at the camp. The two people were taken to the hospital. AYS will continue to follow these unfolding developments…
Wednesday marks the second year anniversary of the Sappho Square Racist Attack in Mytilene, Lesvos. HIASGreece remarks:
“Today marks second years after the Sappho Square Racist Attack in Mytilene, Lesvos. On 22 April 2018, c.150 persons attacked c. 200 protesting refugees with stones, petards and bottles, while at the same time insulting them for their religious and ethnic background. In 11/2018, 26 persons were identified as suspects for the attack & in February 2019 criminal charges were pressed. However, until now none of the 26 had been summoned for the judicial interrogation. HIAS Greece which is representing a number of the victims of the attack, as civil party in the criminal proceedings, condemns the unjustified delays in the criminal investigation of the racist attack and calls on the competent authorities to proceed with the full and timely investigation of the case without any further delay.”
Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) and PRO ASYL released a report on Malakasa camp and the government’s lack of a response to COVID-19:
“Over 1,600 refugees and asylum-seekers are locked-up in Malakasa refugee camp during Covid-19 quarantine with more than half of the residents unregistered [1] and near 250 of them living in common areas and make-shift shelters.
Throughout last year, the refugee camp in Malakasa, has been extensively used by homeless refugees to find emergency shelter — most of them newcomers from the Evros region. As of February 2020, near 250 people resided in common areas and makes-shift shelters in dire conditions and more than half of the camp’s population were not registered as residents by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. In the midst of this situation, on 5 April 2020, the first Covid-19 case was detected in Malakasa and the camp has been locked down for a 14-day quarantine. Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) and PRO ASYL have documented 27 cases of asylum-seekers who sought shelter in the camp without official referral. The vast majority of the interviewees arrived from the Evros region and some from the islands. They described vividly the harsh living conditions and the challenges they face during the pandemic. The failure of the Greek authorities to refer those arriving in the Evros region to a shelter following their release from detention means that many remain unregistered and in precarious accommodation for some time and face more risks for their mental and physical welfare particularly at the time of the pandemic.”
Human Rights Watch published a detailed report on how Greece is not ready to handle COVID-19 in refugee camps.
You can read the full report here.
“Ultimately Greece, with the support of EU institutions and countries, should end its inhumane containment policy and facilitate the transfer of asylum seekers from the Aegean islands on a regular basis and provide them with fair and efficient asylum procedures.
‘Covid-19 exposes that the lack of EU solidarity on addressing the congestion in the Greek islands has not only made the situation worse but is now putting thousands of lives at risk,’ Wille said. ‘The Greek government and the EU should show they can win this race against the clock while addressing in a humane way the massive overcrowding that has been a problem for years.’”
HRW also interviewed a pharmacist, who’s lived in Moria the past five months. See a video here of their interview with him while he explains the efforts to protect and educate people in the camp about the virus.
This guide on COVID-19 is not perfect, but that’s because the situation many refugees find themselves in doesn’t allow for strict adherence. Yet it’s available in Arabic and French and can provide useful, basic information.
Here is another guide in even more languages.
Three amazingly helpful organizations need your support now to help people in Greece from COVID-19:
“Greek Forum of Refugees is trying to raise some funding and collect some supplies for the most vulnerable people who suffer the most the COVID19 pandemic consequences. We need your support in this effort so we can keep up being useful for the people in need.” Donate here.
“Mobile Info Team is asking you to help out, without having to leave your house! Unable to leave the overcrowded camps, refugees in Greece are vulnerable to the spread of COVID19 and are without the protection of the states and societies they once knew. Our work is more is more critical than ever. We publish regular updates on Greek asylum services and information on detection of and protection from COVID19, as well as the pandemic’s presence in Greece. Now more than ever, information is power and Mobile Info Team is working day and night to equip vulnerable migrant communities with the facts they need to protect themselves.” Donate here.
Join Movement on the Ground’s campaign to help the 2,000 people living in the olive groves outside of Moria! They are trying to raise money to improve their resources. Join here.

SERBIA

In an update from NoName Kitchen:
“Upon the arrival of the coronavirus, the government limited the movement of migrants and left the detention of those who lived outside the official camps to the police and the military. Since then, no one can leave and there are members of the army guarding the perimeter of each property. Meanwhile, the police are stopping foreigners on the streets of Belgrade on suspicion that they are migrants based on their faces, skin colour, clothing… and asking where they come from and where they are staying.
Good news in this scenario is that there were no registered cases of Covid-19 contagion in any of the camps. Further good news is that at least 35 young people who tried The Game in recent days were able to cross the border and are healthy and safe in different European countries. In contrast, we heard from three people who were unable to do so and suffered pushbacks to Bosnia by the Croatian police.
Seven weeks after the arrival of the virus, the number of infected people is growing by about 400 cases daily average, much higher than registered during March. Serbia has become the country with the most cases on the entire Balkan route, second only to Romania in the region.”

▻https://medium.com/are-you-syrious/ays-daily-digest-22-04-20-300-people-protest-in-moria-for-safety-against-cov
#Covid-19 #Migrants #Migrations #Balkans #Serbie #Camp #Grèce

[google translate]

Tensions rise in camps: Some migrants who have been without freedom of movement for more than a month announce complaints

Following the introduction of the state of emergency due to the coronavirus epidemic in Serbia, the government has quarantined migrants. For more than a month, the reception centers of almost 9000 migrants can only leave individually with a written permit and for a fixed period of time. This has led to a rise in tensions and increasingly frequent incidents at reception centers. While government officials on the one hand argued that such measures were necessary, the A11 initiative had submitted to the Constitutional Court an initiative to review the constitutionality of such a provision, and complaints were allegedly announced by some of the migrants in detention centers.

A mass brawl recently erupted in the Obrenovac barracks housing migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and others, prompting the army and police to arrive in Obrenovac.

As refugee commissioner Vladimir Cucic said at the time, a fight occurred when about 50 younger migrants “behaved” vandally because of their dissatisfaction with not being able to leave the facility and fighting with each other, while the rest were quiet.

There were reports in the media that there were fights and incidents at other reception centers, such as a recent one at the Adasevci reception center when a migrant tried to jump over a fence.

The KIRS for Insider states that it is true that the incidents occurred at several reception centers, and so far, “this was mainly an attempt by the persons located in the centers to leave the centers, and they were prevented in accordance with the current situation and authorities.”.

"Movement restriction measures in force since the introduction of the state of emergency, as well as a significant number of long-stay detainees who have been irregularly staying in Serbia and who have refused accommodation services, have the effect of increasing tensions among migrants housed, protests about restricted movement, in one case an attack on people and property, ”KIRS said in a response to Insider.

However, they add that in order to prevent such events, various activities are organized so that most of the time all persons are engaged in some way.

A11: Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants illegally detained
The Economic and Social Rights Initiative A11 has launched an initiative to initiate the constitutional review procedure for Article 3 of the Emergency Measures Regulation, which imprisoned migrants. They recall that such a provision is justified by “preventing uncontrolled movement”, as well as by the fact that these persons may be carriers of the virus.

"Bearing in mind that any person can be a carrier of the virus, and that there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus among the population of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, and that persons from the same population living in private accommodation are not subject to any special rights restrictions, we emphasize that in this case, it is discrimination based on legal status, origin and place of residence, "states A11.

As they added, they were denied the right to an individualized and reasoned decision on deprivation of liberty, which would be followed by communication of the reasons why they were detained in the asylum centers and reception centers by the competent authority.

They also point out that they have been denied the right to decide, by way of a complaint about the legality and merits of deprivation of liberty, of a judicial body, as well as the right to a legal representative and other rights belonging to persons deprived of their liberty.

Nikola Kovacevic of the Insider A11 initiative says several migrants plan to complain about deprivation of freedom of movement.

“Next week, we will ask the Commissariat to enter camps where the conditions are most difficult, because there is great dissatisfaction at the centers in Adasevci, Presevo and Obrenovac and Sombor,” Kovacevic says.

He adds that the A11 initiative will seek to represent those who wish to complain about their deprivation of liberty and that “everyone can claim compensation for each day they spend at the camp.”

Protector of Citizens: Control procedure initiated at the Asylum Center in Krnjaca
Asked by Insiders whether and what actions were taken by the Protector of Citizens on the situation in the migrant centers, the institution stated that, together with the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), the competent institutions had been drawn to the absolute prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.

"The recommendation of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of 20 March 2020, which outlines the principles governing the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty during a coronary virus pandemic and all authorities, has been submitted to all that they adhere to them, as does the WHO recommendation, ”the insider’s office said.

They added that they also collected data on reception and care and organized visits to asylum centers. The Protector of Citizens team visited the Krnjaca Asylum Center on April 22.

“Unattended interviews were conducted with some of the persons present there, as well as with officials, a medical examination of individual persons was carried out, and relevant documentation was inspected. Accommodation conditions have also been monitored, in particular the way in which measures are being taken to combat the spread of coronaviruses and how, in these circumstances, the exercise of these persons’ fundamental rights is ensured, ”the response said.

They point out that an incident was initiated at an asylum center in Krnjaca and a request for information was requested.

In two cases, additional information was requested from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Commissariat for Refugees regarding the received information on the treatment of migrants, and after their submission a decision will be made on the further course of the procedure, the reply states.

They also said that a visit was also made to the Alien Shelter in Padinska Skela. A separate telephone line was launched, and in addition to conversations with persons deprived of their liberty on that telephone number, the collection and verification of data relating to the places where they were located increased, and third parties were contacted (lawyers, family members of persons deprived of their liberty). freedom, non-governmental organizations, etc.).

“In this way, their treatment is monitored and data are collected on the basis of which future visits to the NPM are planned or control procedures initiated on complaints filed,” the Ombudsman concludes.

Vulin: Whoever tries to break the order and does not obey the law will be stopped
In the meantime, Defense Minister Alexander Vulin visited members of the Army who provide a migrant reception center in Adasevci. He also commented on the latest incident when a group of migrants tried to escape from a migrant camp.

"The Serbian army and its members acted in accordance with the law, in accordance with the rules of service. No one was injured, but it was made clear that anyone who tries to disrupt the order and does not obey the law will be stopped by appropriate use of force, ”Minister Vulin said.

He stressed that migrants will be detained in their camps for 24 hours, until another decision is made, which will be made on the basis of the decision of the competent health authorities.

In addition to its regular duties, the Serbian Army provides 20 detention camps and centers for migrant accommodation.

Source: Insider

▻https://insajder.net/sr/sajt/tema/18102/Rastu-tenzije-u-kampovima-Neki-od-migranata-koji-su-du%C5%BEe-od-mesec-dan

#Covid-19 #Migrants #Migrations #Balkans #Serbie #Camp

[google translate] 

Migrants are also entitled to health care and treatment for virus coronas

Greece is the first stop for migrants and refugees, most of whom are undocumented, and are intended to reach developed Western European countries. At the end of March, the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros had over 37,000 migrants housed in facilities with a total capacity of just 6,095. According to NGOs, the conditions in the centers cannot be characterized as suitable for a dignified and humane life. Extremely limited access to running water, toilets and showers, as well as long food distribution lines and insufficient medical staff, make it impossible to adhere to coronavirus protection guidelines, which puts migrants and refugees at increased risk of widespread COVID-19 transmission. However, the emergence of virus coronas in Greece has only served to “radically exacerbate an already problematic situation,” says Eleni Takou, deputy director of HumanRights360.

The impact of the current situation in Greece has been further exacerbated by various measures implemented by the ruling Conservative New Democracy (ND) party since it assumed power last summer, including restricting access to health care for newly arrived asylum seekers. Even more drastic was the decision to suspend asylum applications during the month of March as part of efforts to deter migrants from Syria and other countries coming from Turkey.

Suppression of a pandemic in the region against the human rights of migrants

Although the situation in Greece is difficult due to the large number of migrants and refugees, the situation is similar in other countries where there are currently significantly fewer migrants and refugees. According to estimates of the competent institutions, there are about 9,000 migrants and refugees in Serbia, while there are about 7,500 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reports from local and international organizations state that accommodation conditions are below all standards due to overcrowding of accommodation facilities, and that this creates additional nervousness for migrants and refugees, leading to incidents. One such incident happened in Serbia, where the shooting took place. “On March 21, 2020, the Serbian army fired into the air in front of two migrant centers to warn that no migrants would escape from quarantine,” said Serbian Defense Minister Alexander Vulin.

Migration of refugees and refugees has begun in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the newly formed Lipa Migrant Camp near Bihać, which has so far housed more than 320 migrants who have mostly resided on city streets and abandoned facilities in Bihac. Migrants and refugees are provided with medical examinations when displaced. According to an estimate by the Ministry of the Interior of Una-Sana Canton, there are about 1,000 migrants and refugees in abandoned buildings in and around the city. It is planned that in the next few months migrants from the Bira Reception Center in Bihac will be transferred to the Lipa Camp.

Former Yugoslavia official figures show no COVID-19 infections among migrants so far, used by human rights organizations to indicate that measures taken to close migrants and refugees in overcrowded facilities are completely unfounded . Gordan Paunovic of Info Park says the current measures will need to be relaxed because people lack psychosocial support. “Imagine the situation that we are all in, but we do not have these 13 hours every day to go outside and go shopping. Imagine people in isolated locations. These people are practically in prison, ”Paunovic told Radio Free Europe.

According to the assessment of health experts, the measures of imprisonment affect the health of migrants and the question is how the situation will develop in the future. About the current health situation of migrants and refugees in BiH, Nocal Bay, Director of the DRC (Danish Refugee Council) in BiH, says: “We work closely with public health institutes, ministries of health, numerous clinical centers, health centers and hospitals, and all in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) in BiH.

The temporary reception centers have implemented preventive measures, also in accordance with the recommendations of the WHO, which include the sharing of information and materials within the center. Teams of the Danish Refugee Council organized information sessions for beneficiaries at the centers (in all languages), with particular emphasis on all important measures, as well as the importance of minimizing contacts with other people. The DRC pays particular attention to the training and education of its staff in accordance with WHO recommendations.”

Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to migrants and refugees, Bay adds that they are satisfied with the current health status of the migrant population in temporary reception centers. “Apart from seasonal influenza and other diseases typical of this time of year, we do not have any confirmed positive COVID-19 cases. Several people are placed in isolatories because they show mild symptoms that may also be symptoms of seasonal influenza. Symptoms are regularly monitored in these persons, under medical supervision in isolated rooms. No patients require testing or hospitalization, ”Bay emphasized.

The mental health of migrants is further impaired by pandemics and stigmatization

The complexity of the pandemic-induced changes and the additional incarceration of migrants and refugees into unsafe places also affects mental health. “Migrants are an extremely vulnerable population, given that most of them have experienced different traumatic experiences of staying in their country of origin, and have experienced different difficulties during their journey to their chosen European destination,” said Sanja Dabovic, a psychologist.

Dabovic emphasizes in particular that restricting freedom of movement and prohibiting exit from reception centers can have negative psychological consequences on the mental well-being of migrants. Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, aggression are just some of the symptoms that can be manifested in these circumstances. For preventive reasons, it would be desirable to allow for additional psychological interventions based on regular observation of the behavior of the users of the reception center services and their stated needs, Dabović said.

In emergencies, such as the current COVID-19 virus, marginalized groups become even more vulnerable, more susceptible to stressors and developing symptoms of psychological conditions and disorders. Undoubtedly, children who have found themselves in reception centers are the most affected by these circumstances, especially given the fact that they may not have access or find it difficult to understand the available information about the corona virus.

WHO comment posted on 04/16/2020. The Lancet highlights the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on refugees and migrants and the need to address them in response to the epidemic and preparedness. Refugees and migrants, especially those displaced and / or living in camps and camp environments, face specific challenges and vulnerabilities that must be considered when preparing or responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bay: International coordination in the fight against pandemics successful

Protective equipment (masks, gloves and disinfectants) are available to users at temporary reception centers. In terms of personal and collective hygiene, there is a sufficient amount of hygiene and disinfectant. “We have done all the preparations and are continuing to supply. All international organizations operating in the centers have done their best to reduce the possibility of spreading the virus. We have developed a plan that addresses the movement, diagnosis and surveillance of users at a temporary reception center, ”Bay said.

“The plan was drafted in accordance with the regulations and recommendations of health institutions and line ministries in BiH. In addition, in cooperation with the IOM, we have secured in the centers certain premises for use as an isolator and quarantine. So the treatment is the same as for the locals, ”explains Bay measures taken by the DRC in BiH.

Bay states that we are facing a difficult situation where everyone has to do their part to deal with the crisis that has become a global problem. “We are here to coordinate and advocate for the provision of medical assistance to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, taking into account also public health. The priorities and actions taken to reduce the spread of COVID 19 among the migrant population are not and should not be different from those undertaken for the local population, ”adds Nocal Bay Director of the DRC in BiH.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have jointly developed a report entitled "Temporary Guidelines: Increasing Readiness and response to the COVID-19 outbreak in humanitarian situations, including camps and camp environments ”. The report was published by the Interagency Permanent Committee (IASC) in line with European and global guidelines, the report states the following:

Public health responses must take into account the health risks associated with movement, displacement, overcrowding, poor nutritional and health status, and physical and mental stress and deprivation due to lack of housing, food and clean water among refugees and migrants.
States must prevent the stigmatization and discrimination of refugees and migrants due to measures implemented during COVID-19 reaction operations.
States must ensure that refugees and migrants, regardless of their legal status, have access to health care, other services and culturally and linguistically sensitive information on how to prevent and infect others, and must consider social determinants such as discrimination and criminalization in their response .
Refugees and migrants must be involved in the development of preparedness and response plans, policies and strategies, and must be provided with the necessary beliefs to participate fully in public health measures.

▻https://www.mreza-mira.net/vijesti/kutak-za-aktivistice-i-aktiviste/migranti-imaju-pravo-na-zdravstvenu-zastitu-i-lijecenje

#Covid-19 #Migrants #Migrations #Balkans #Bosnie-Herzégovine #Serbia #Grèce #Santé

Bosnia Shifts Vulnerable Migrants and Refugees to New Temporary Camp

Despite opposition from Bosnian Serbs, migrants and refugees who were living rough are being resettled to a temporary reception centre near the village of Lipa in the country’s north-west.
The authorities in the Una-Sana Canton, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration, moved a first group of about 120 migrants and refugees to the new reception centre in Lipa, not far from the town of Bihac, on Tuesday.

In total, about 1,000 people who have been living on the streets of Bihac and nearby towns in the recent weeks because there is not enough space at existing reception centres will be relocated to the Lipa camp.

In mid-March, the Bosnian authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of migrants and refugees and ordered them into temporary reception centres as a part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“Camp Lipa contains all the infrastructure needed to provide basic humanitarian needs to the users in the form of accommodation, food, hygiene, sanitation and medical care,” the Una-Sana cantonal government said in a press statement.

The mayor of Bihac, Suhret Fazlic, told Bosnian media that moving these people to the new centre will allow their health and safety to be better monitored.

According to police estimates, there are currently approximately 1,500 migrants in the Bihac area for whom there are no places in existing reception centres.

Representatives of Serbs who returned to Bosnia’s Federation entity after fleeing during the war strongly opposed the construction of the camp near Lipa, a village where post-war Serb returnees live, because they claimed that the mainly Muslim migrants and refugees could be a threat to them.

They argued that the construction of a migrant centre in near Lipa was a message to Serbs that they are not welcome in Bosnia’s Bosniak- and Croat-dominated Federation entity.

They have threatened to block all access roads to the centre after the coronavirus epidemic ends, and have appealed for help to Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the tripartite Bosnian presidency.

There are currently about 7,500 registered migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

▻https://balkaninsight.com/2020/04/21/bosnia-shifts-vulnerable-migrants-and-refugees-to-new-temporary-camp

#Covid-19 #Migrants #Migrations #Balkans #Bosnie-Herzégovine #Lipa #camp #Unasanacanton #Fédérationcroatomusulmane #Serbe #Retour

Shelter Provided to Migrants Sleeping Rough in Bosnian Capital

Migrants who have been sleeping on the streets of Sarajevo for the past weeks have been given accommodation at a temporary reception centre located in a military barracks near the city.
The International Organization for Migration, IOM, the Danish Refugee Council, DRC, the Red Cross of the Federation entity in Bosnia, together with migrants who volunteered, on Friday set up heated isolation tents for migrants in the Blazuj army barracks, furnished with 1,000 beds, mattresses and blankets.

The idea is to provide temporary accommodation for migrants and refugees who have previously been sleeping rough on the streets of Sarajevo.

According to the IOM, the migrants will first go through a medical check-up pending registration after which they will have access to shelter, food, medical assistance and other humanitarian needs.

In mid-March, the Sarajevo Canton, which includes the Bosnian capital and various nearby towns and villages, imposed restrictions on the movement of migrants, and ordered them into temporary reception centres as a part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

However, since the existing temporary reception centres did not have the capacity to host all the migrants located in and around the Sarajevo Canton, more capacity was needed.

A similar temporary reception centre is being built not far from the village of Lipa, in western Bosnia, in the Una-Sana Canton.

However, Bosnian Serbs have called on the authorities not to build a tent camp near the village, where post-war Serb returnees live, because they claim the mainly Muslim migrants could be a threat to them.

There are about 7,500 registered migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For at least 3,000 of them, there are no places in temporary reception centres set up by the authorities.

►https://balkaninsight.com/2020/03/28/shelter-provided-to-migrants-sleeping-rough-in-bosnian-capital

#Covid-19 #Migrants #Migrations #Balkans #Bosnie-Herzégovine #Lipa #camp #Unasanacanton #Fédérationcroatomusulmane

Bosnia, new migrant hosting center inaugurated in Bihac

Bosnian authorities on April 22 inaugurated a new hosting center for migrants that can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The facility will be managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the village of Lipa, near Bihac, at the border with Croatia.

A new hosting center for refugees and migrants that can accommodate up to 1,000 people was inaugurated on April 22 in the village of Lipa, close to Bihac, in northwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina near the border with Croatia. The center will be managed by the International Organization for Migrants (IOM).

Police have already brought a number of migrants to the facility among those — an estimated 1,500 people — who are sleeping rough or living in abandoned homes in the area of Bihac.

A reported 100 people will be transferred every day to the facility, where doctors will give them a medical checkup, including a coronavirus test. Authorities said the transfer of migrants will for this reason progress slowly and that it will be completed in a few days.

Government is working on repatriation program

The center is meant to provide stable accommodation to migrants who want to eventually travel to a European Union member State.

Bosnian Security Minister Fahrudin Radoncic, however, is critical and wants to start a program to repatriate the migrants to their home countries. "Many thought that it was a humanitarian issue but they have finally understood that it is a matter of security and that this country is not able to sustain 7-8,000 migrants’’, the minister said.

He added that he was not speaking about people fleeing war but about undocumented migrants who come from countries that are richer than Bosnia.

Lipa residents against center

Representatives of the 250 Serbian residents of the village of Lipa have said that they are against the center. They want to return to the homes they had prior to the war (1992-95) and have complained that migrants have electricity, running water and Wi-Fi at the center while they are still waiting for these municipal services.

Lipa’s Serbians have already announced that they will organize protests once restrictions on gatherings due to the coronavirus emergency are lifted.

▻https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/24334/bosnia-new-migrant-hosting-center-inaugurated-in-bihac

#Covid-19 #Migrants #Migrations #Balkans #Bosnie-Herzégovine #Lipa #camp #Unasanacanton #Fédérationcroatomusulmane

Amnesty International: Decision to confine Thousands of Migrants into Camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina puts Lives at Risk

Responding to the decision of the local authorities in Una-Sana Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina to forcefully transfer and confine thousands of migrants living in the area to an inadequate tent camp in Lipa, Amnesty’s Europe Deputy Director Massimo Moratti said:

“Forcing people, many of whom are already vulnerable, into a hastily set up remote tent facility without ensuring adequate access to water and sanitation, spaces to self-isolate and accessible medical care is inhumane and will put people at greater risk of infection and preventable deaths.

Confining people in potentially harmful conditions cannot be justified on the grounds of public health, stated by Massimo Moratti, Amnesty International

“Confining people in potentially harmful conditions cannot be justified on the grounds of public health. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities in Bosnia have a responsibility to address the needs of all marginalised groups and ensure humane living conditions, including access to water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as appropriate medical care, for all people, including migrants and asylum-seekers.

“Restrictions on the rights of migrants and asylum-seekers in the context of the COVID-19 public health emergency have to be lawful, necessary and proportionate and should not discriminate against or put at risk already marginalised people. These measures fail on all counts.”

Restrictions on the rights of migrants and asylum-seekers in the context of the COVID-19 public health emergency have to be lawful, necessary and proportionate

Massimo Moratti, Amnesty International

Background

Thousands of refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers trying to make their way into Europe are currently stranded in Una-Sana Canton in the north-west of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While about 4,100 are accommodated in the temporary reception facilities managed by International Organization for Migration (IOM), an estimated 3,000 are sleeping in squats in abandoned buildings or sleeping rough and are now at risk of being relocated to the Lipa camp.

Following declaration of emergency measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 across BiH, the local authorities in Una-Sana Canton ordered a relocation of thousands of refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers currently sleeping rough on the territory of the canton into a temporary camp in the village of Lipa which is currently in preparation.

In the past, the authorities in Una-Sana canton failed to provide adequate conditions for accommodation of refugees and migrants. The controversial Vucjak tent settlement built on a former landfill and close to a minefield from the Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war, was finally closed in December and over 600 people transferred elsewhere following significant pressure by human rights groups and international community.

▻https://www.sarajevotimes.com/amnesty-international-decision-to-confine-thousands-of-migrants-into-

#Covid-19 #Migrants #Migrations #Balkans #Bosnie-Herzégovine #Lipa #camp #Unasanacanton #Fédérationcroatomusulmane

Relocation of Migrants to Newly opened Reception Camp on 83,000 Square Meters started

The Una-Sana Canton (USC) police launched an action this morning to move migrants to a newly opened reception camp on the Lipa site, between Bihac and Bosanski Petrovac, Fena news agency reports.

Police officers are currently deploying more than a hundred people who have previously stayed at the stadium of the Jedinstvo Football Club and the nearby (Gradska Aleja) City Walk in Bihac.

It has also been confirmed that engaged medical teams will do triage when entering the Lipa camp.

The current capacity of the newly opened reception camp accommodates around 1,000 people, while the relocation action could take several days due to detailed medical examinations.

“Lipa” is equipped with all necessary infrastructure to provide the beneficiaries with basic humanitarian needs in the form of accommodation, food, hygiene, sanitation and medical care.

In November last year, the City Council of the City of Bihac approved the location of Lipa as the only one owned by the City of Bihac to establish a temporary reception center for migrants, Klix.ba news portal reports.

The settlement should contain 1,106 containers. According to the plan document, Camp Lipa should have 728 migrant housing containers, 252 sanitary containers, 126 administrative containers that will house police, the Red Cross, medical teams, registration area, NGOs and media, and a central kitchen with dining room. There is also space for entertaining, education and recreation.

The future camp would be located on an area of nearly 83,000 square meters.

Containers contain windows, parquet floors and everything that migrants need for a comfortable stay, and the outside is decorated in a variety of colors. A recreation area, walks and rest area with trees and benches are also provided. The kitchen will cover an area of nearly 18 thousand square meters. It is also important to emphasize that men will be separated of from woman and children.

There are already existing roads to this location, but it is necessary to build 4,5 thousand meters of internal roads and to provide water, electricity and sewage.

It is still unknown when construction will begin, but it is known that it should do so as soon as a new migrant wave is expected in the spring. Camp Lipa is located between Bosanski Petrovac and Bihać.

The site could be accepted by the European Commission, given that it is city-owned and remote from populated areas.

The problem could possibly be posed by the Republic of Croatia, given that this village is near the border with that country.

▻https://www.sarajevotimes.com/relocation-of-migrants-to-newly-opened-reception-camp-on-83000-square

#Covid-19 #Migrants #Migrations #Balkans #Bosnie-Herzégovine #Lipa #camp #Unasanacanton #Fédérationcroatomusulmane