Although Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a stopover for migrants on their way to the West, some decide to stay in this country. Nadzib Nazari’s brother Javid from Afghanistan drowned while trying to cross the border illegally at the end of last year. Now, as a member of the SOS team, he helps others in need, is waiting for the last approval for asylum, and is not even thinking about going to Germany anymore.
Najib Nazari left his native Afghanistan with his family in 2018. On his way to Germany, he arrived in BiH last year. The last attempt to illegally cross the border across the Sava in Srbac, in December, was fatal for his brother Javid.
“For a few minutes, I just listened to the sounds of my brother, he fell into the river. After a few moments, I couldn’t find him. I tried to find him. I jumped into the river, but it was night, and I could not see anything. After a few minutes, I realized that I no longer had a brother,” Najib Nazari stated.
His brother was buried 150 kilometers away, in Tuzla.
He decided to stay and help others. While he is waiting for the end of the asylum process, the 19-year-old is constantly engaged in the SOS organization Bihac.
“I was with the SOS team in Bihac during these last floods, helping people together with the SOS team from the Lipa camp. Sometimes we go to the Lipa camp when the refugees need a doctor or transport to the hospital,” he says.
Najib’s friend Kazim also wants to stay in BiH. They also work together on the “Land of Hope” project, whose main goal is to help those in danger.
“I like this country. BiH has good people and it is a very beautiful country. The SOS team helped us a lot. We have been with them for 3 months and we realized how they help people and how we can help others. We learn from them,” says Kazim Roshan.
For most migrants, BiH is a transit country. Since 2018, more than 100.000 people have passed through the country on the move. The number of arrivals increased last year. Migrants stay for an average of 6 to 9 days. Only a few, like Najib, decide to seek asylum, Slobodna Evropa reports.
E.Dz.
