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Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants Stranded in Bosnia and Herzegovina

More and more people are leaving their homes in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia in search of opportunities in Western Europe. Limited legal travel possibilities and the economic and political instability in their home countries convince some migrants that the risks of travelling irregularly are worthwhile. Many of these migrants travel without valid documents or are smuggled across borders.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a crossroad for East/West irregular migration. After the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, BiH became an attractive route for irregular migration and human smuggling operations because of its new and porous borders.

The BiH Government is developing its capacity to manage illegal migration. The recently enacted Law on Movement and Stay of Aliens and Asylum places the responsibility for detention and deportation with the Government. In November 2009 is officially opened the Immigration Centre for accommodation of irregular migrants stranded in BiH. However, the Centre still does not possess capacities to accommodate unacompanied minors and families.

Irregular migrants face great personal and financial risks. In addition to paying their transportation costs from their home countries, some irregular migrants pay smugglers up to 12,000 Euro to help them transit across borders into Western Europe. Even after paying this high sum, many migrants are stranded in BiH without the means to return home.

As BiH continues to develop its capacities the AVR programme will incorporate new activities to respond to this changing situation. Particularly, as the temporary reception centre is under construction, a training component will be introduced with the goal to train the SBS and other law enforcement agencies in the concept, procedure and benefit of AVR.

IOM’s ASSISTED VOLUNTARY RETURN (AVR) PROGRAMME

IOM, in co-operation with the State Border Service, the Ministries of Interior, the Ministry of Security, the European Union Police Mission, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and local NGOs, helps migrants stranded in BiH return voluntarily to their home countries.

IOM provides temporary shelter protection for   irregular migrants stranded in BiH. IOM registers migrants who wish to return to their country of origin and accommodates them at its shelter in Sarajevo. At the shelter, they receive accommodation, food, and hygienic supplies. They are also advised of what options are available to them and provided with medical care as needed. Since the establishment of the State Immigration centre in 2009, the IOM shelter is in use only for exceptional cases, as the BiH government took the main responsibility for providing accommodation shelters for irregular migrants.

IOM returns irregular migrants to their country of origin. IOM secures travel arrangements and documents for irregular migrants, including visas and flight bookings. IOM Sarajevo transports migrants to the airport and co-ordinates with other IOM missions to ensure that assistance is provided while en route and at the final destination. IOM disburses a cash allowance for the return journey and pays for all flights and in-transit accommodation.

IOM BiH has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Security (MoS) regarding AVR. The MoU outlines the MoS’s request for IOM to continue to provide support in transporting and providing health provisions to stranded irregular migrants, until the state is able to take over these responsibilities. In the meantime, however, IOM’s AVR programme will continue to play a significant role in ensuring that irregular migrants are able to return to their country of origin in a dignified and humane manner.

DONORS:

Swiss Government

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