The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that the migration crisis between Turkey and Greece could lead to an increase in migrant flows and Bosnia could have to deal with up to 10,000 arrivals a day, Info Migrants reports.
The head of IOM in Bosnia, Peter van der Auweraert, warned that in the event of an increase in migrant flows through the western Balkan route, Bosnia could be forced to deal with up to 10,000 arrivals a day. Auweraert was speaking in an interview to regional television N1 on March 2.
Bosnia is already struggling to manage the situation with some 5,000 migrants currently in the country.
Croatia increasing border checks
Van der Auweraert said a source of concern was the fact that “Croatia is increasing controls at its borders, which means that the number of migrants in Bosnia could increase.”
According to the IOM chief, only cooperation between the European Union and single member states can bring a ”long-lasting and sustainable solution” because migrants don’t want to stay in Bosnia.
”Poor Bosnia can’t deal with the problem on its own”, said Bosnian Security Minister Fahrudin Radoncic, urging EU countries and the region to share security and humanitarian responsibilities.
‘EU must not sacrifice Bosnia’
Radoncic also criticized Serbian Bosniaks whose parliament has vetoed Sarajevo’s accord with EU border agency Frontex “whose help, like the one provided by IOM, would be of priceless value.”
The minister went on to say that the “EU must not sacrifice Bosnia and other countries nearby nor attempt to create here a space for a subtle selection between migrants who can work and who can be allowed in because they are necessary for certain European countries as workforce” and “radicals and those with a criminal record whom human traffickers in the end want to leave to us.”
