During this year, more than 30,000 migrants passed through Bosnia and Herzegovina, and most of them were migrants from countries with a high migration risk.
As confirmed for Fena news agency by the Service for Affairs with Foreigners, from January 1 to December 17 of this year, 30,813 certificates of expressed intention to seek asylum were issued, and as in the previous period, the majority were still migrants of the economic age category between 19 and 35 years.
“These migrants stay in BiH for a very short time and according to their statements, they try to use the territory of BiH as a transit area on their way to EU countries. To the greatest extent, it was a mixed group of migrants, namely citizens of Afghanistan, Morocco, Syria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and other countries, who after entering BiH expressed their intention to seek asylum,” according to the Service for Foreigners.
When it comes to the situation in the reception centers for migrants, they emphasize that the situation is satisfactory.
Currently, about 2,600 migrants are staying in the accommodation capacities of the temporary reception centers that are available, of which about 1,100 are in the Una-Sana Canton and 1,400 are in the Sarajevo Canton.
In the context of the question of the possible security threat that illegal migrants could represent, the Service for Affairs with Foreigners emphasizes that organized irregular migration is complex and that behind it are well-organized criminal groups that carry out the illegal transfer of migrants, which includes transport and accommodation in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina .
“In this context, the Service made a significant contribution by participating in joint operational actions to combat smuggling and human trafficking, and by collecting operational knowledge and information, which it exchanged in a timely manner with competent law enforcement agencies, which ultimately resulted in investigations and court proceedings,” it was explained from the Service.
According to the data provided, in accordance with the signed readmission agreements, 173 migrants were returned from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Serbia, and 29 migrants were returned to Montenegro.
Through various forms of return, the service realized the removal to the countries of origin for 550 migrants in 2023.
“432 migrants were returned through the voluntary return implemented by the Service for Foreigners, and 118 migrants were returned to their countries of origin through the forced return program,” stated the Service for Foreigners.
In the end, they underline that mutual cooperation, participation in joint activities and exchange of information with police agencies in BiH and international partners is excellent, takes place continuously and gives excellent results, where the Service, as they state, is recognized as an equal partner.
