Bosnia and Herzegovina

This overview document presents 114 security incidents affecting aid delivery in 16 countries in Europe between January 2017 and March 2018. The report is based on incidents identified in open sources and reported by Aid in Danger partner agencies using the Security in Numbers Database (SiND).

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 91,093 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2018 through 17 October, with 42,494 to Spain, the leading destination this year. In fact, since late September’s arrivals were reported, Spain in 2018 has now received via the Mediterranean more irregular migrants than it did throughout all the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 combined.

The region’s total arrivals through the recent weekend compare with 145,193 arrivals across the region through the same period last year, and 320,033 at this point in 2016.

Sarajevo-Geneva – Bosnia-Herzegovina, a party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (also known as Ottawa Convention), is undertaking a national exercise with relevant stakeholders after determining that it will not be able to meet its 1 March 2019 mine clearance deadline. With financial support of the European Union and technical support of the Convention’s Implementation Support Unit, BiH will hold a National Stakeholder Dialogue in Sarajevo, 18-19 October with the participation of over 60 national and international partners.

More than 200 families will receive support in the areas of agriculture production, employment and self-employment as part of the project to support communities affected by 2014 floods.

Bego Suljić has been unemployed for 14 years. “Life is a struggle” says Bego standing in front of his house, while his children are inside, getting ready for school classes. His six-member family survives from agriculture. “I plant fruits and vegetables. I also have a cow” Bego explains and adds “Cow rules. She earned me my first money”.

A massive storm system brought historic flooding across South Eastern Europe in 2014, causing more than $2 billion in damages in Bosnia and Herzegovina and shrinking Serbia’s economy by nearly a full percent. Two years later, in August 2016, thunderstorms in the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia dropped 93 liters of precipitation per square meter in just a few hours, sparking flash floods in the capital, Skopje, that killed at least 21 people.

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 88,049 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2018 through 10 October, with 40,598 to Spain, the leading destination this year. The region’s total arrivals through the recent weekend compare with 142,301 arrivals across the region through the same period last year, and 318,791 at this point in 2016.

Spain, with 46 per cent of all arrivals through the current year, continues to receive seaborne migrants in October at a volume approaching three times that of Greece and about eight times that of Italy.

SUBMITTED BY DANIEL WERNER KULL

CO-AUTHORS: MICHAEL STAUDINGER

A massive storm system brought historic flooding across South Eastern Europe in 2014, causing more than $2 billion in damages in Bosnia and Herzegovina and shrinking Serbia’s economy by nearly a full percent. Two years later, in August 2016, thunderstorms in the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia dropped 93 liters of precipitation per square meter in just a few hours, sparking flash floods in the capital, Skopje, that killed at least 21 people.

Total (observed) arrivals – September: 2,523
Total (observed) arrivals - August: 2,458

Total (observed) arrivals of unaccompanied/separated children - September: 408
Total (observed) arrivals of unaccompanied/separated children - August: 468

Total occupancy of government centres – end September: 3,400
Total occupancy of government centres - end August: 3,200

Total presence of refugees/migrants/asylum-seekers – end September: 3,900
Total presence of refugees/migrants/asylum-seekers – end August: 3,700

Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, reports that 84,345 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2018 through 3 October, with 38,451 to Spain, the leading destination this year.

The region’s total arrivals through the recent weekend compare with 139,677 arrivals across the region through the same period last year, and 312,153 at this same point in 2016. Deaths on the Mediterranean remain high, at 1,777. However, that figure is well below fatalities recorded at this time last year (2,749) or 2016 (3,682).

HIGHLIGHTS

According to the compilation of available data from national authorities and IOM offices, a total of 87,776 migrants and refugees arrived in Europe between January and August 2018. Estimated 79 per cent of the overall population crossed the Mediterranean Sea (69,614), mainly using the Western Mediterranean route which leads to Spain where 33,912 new arrivals were registered between January and August 2018.

Global Overview

• The number newly arriving refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants that were observed or assisted by UNHCR and partners in Serbia grew to 1,130 - compared to 961 during the preceding fortnight. 53% claimed to have entered Serbia irregularly from fYR Macedonia (down from 55% two weeks ago) and 20% from Bulgaria (down from 30%), and 21% to have arrived regularly by air (up from 13%). Most new arrivals originated from Afghanistan (26%), Pakistan (24%), or Iran (23%), followed by Iraq (6%), Bangladesh (3%), or Syria (2%). 69% were adult men, 23% children (incl.

INTRODUCTION

The number of irregular migrants arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) saw a significant increase in 2018 with respect to previous years. In April 2018, authorities in BiH registered 1,419 new irregular migrants amounting to a total of 2,733 since the beginning of the year. The overall number of registered migrants in 2018 is more than ten times higher than the 270 registered in the same period in 2017.

TRENDS AND KEY FIGURES

Linda Van Gelder, Regional Director for Western Balkans

As countries in the Western Balkans continue to grow, so too does their exposure to risk from climate change and natural disasters.

Over the last twenty years, living standards have increased six-fold in Bosnia and Herzegovina, nearly three-fold in Albania and in Serbia. More people are finding jobs and wages are rising. The region’s future, according to the latest World Bank projections, is bright.

Summary of major revisions made to emergency plan of action:

This Operation Update reports on a two-month no-cost extension of the DREF operation time-frame, as well as minor reallocations made in the DREF budget.

Two minor revisions made to the EPoA since the beginning of implementation, necessitated mainly by decisions beyond the control of the Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RCSBiH):

• The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission and BiH, respectively) urges the BiH Council of Ministers to adopt the revised National War Crimes Strategy (Revised Strategy) without further delay.
• As of December 2017, the BiH judicial authorities have processed 473 war crimes cases, including a majority of the “Rules of the Road - Category A” cases, generally in line with international law and standards.

During August, health care was provided in Una-Sana Canton by local health care centres, supported by UNHCR, the Danish Refugee Council, and Médecins Sans Frontières.

As of 31 August, winter appropriate accommodation only existed for approximately 200 of around 4,000 refugees and migrants in Una-Sana Canton.

Reports alleging violent push-backs from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina continue.
International media and EU attention on the issue has increased.

Operational Context

Highlights
- Extreme weather is fast becoming the new normal for the Balkans.
- Governments are turning to innovative technologies to better understand risk.
- Countries in the Balkans are sharing real-time hydro meteorological data and forecasts to provide critical early flood warnings. Serbia is using LiDAR analysis to guide risk-reduction efforts for communities and inform investments in strategic infrastructure.

These are the contracts named General Assessment of the mine suspected area in BiH and the Support to the creation of the Information BHMAC Information System on the web platform, for which 1.1 million Euros have been allocated through the Instrument for Stability and Peace.