IOM in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) is located at a migration crossroad between Eastern and Western Europe. The conflict in the former Yugoslavia from 1992 to 1995 destroyed the social and economic infrastructure and forced over half of citizens of BH to leave their homes. Today, the return of displaced persons and a rise in illegal migration, such as human trafficking and smuggling, make migration a major challenge for BH’s post-conflict recovery and development.

IOM initiated a mission in Sarajevo in 1992 in the basement of Koševo Hospital, setting up the MEDEVAC programme to evacuate war-wounded individuals who could not be treated locally. Following the end of the war, IOM expanded its activities to the return of refugees from abroad and to assist BH nationals resettling in third countries. Today, IOM’s programmes aim to prevent irregular migration, stop the trafficking of human beings, contribute to national development, and assist the BH Government to manage migration activities.

Mission statement

IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.

As the leading international organization for migration, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to:

  • Assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management,
  • Advance understanding of migration issues,
  • Encourage social and economic development through migration, and
  • Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.

Latest News and Events

  • IOM - UN Migration and the #WB6 representatives discussing progress and priorities in migration management and protection of vulnerable migrants

     

     

  • Signed contract with young people for the project "Workers bees" in Čapljina

     

    Given that today very little time is dedicated for activities for children with disabilities, young people have decided to dedicate this project to them to give a good example to their fellow citizens. Also, in their activity calendar, they listed many activities that will soon be held in Capljina together with children with disabilities. 

     

  • Signed contract for the realization of the project "Run, become active"

     

    The aim of the project is that the informal group of young people are brought together and that passive young people are encouraged to network, creative work and socializing through entertainment, sports and education. The project will significantly contribute to the development and improvement of the sense of community among young people, overcoming prejudices and will be a unique environment in which young people will work on developing common ideas in order to create proposals and define the areas in which they want to be active after the end of this project.

     

  • Finalised the first module of training for trainers for parents

     

    Throughout the three modules, parents will acquire the skills of trainers for the realization of the "Strengthening Parental Skills" training in their communities. This is the second such training that is being implemented within the project "Moving to sustainable approaches in the prevention of violent extremism in the Western Balkans". The parents expressed their satisfaction with the opportunity to participate in this training and carried only positive impressions with them.

     

  • The first workshop of integrative complexity for parents was held in Zavidovići

     

    Whether the merit of the coach or because of the quality of the group, only one person lost interest in the workshop after the first day, while the others were present to the end. After the unusual start and skepticism at the beginning, the parent group quickly adapted and gained new knowledge about integrative complexity through the game. Everyone agreed that they will certainly recommend this workshop to others as well.

     

More news

Latest Vacancy

Title Duty Station Closing Date
OC 01-02-19 JAVNI POZIV ZA DOSTAVLJANJE PONUDA – PREVOZ DJECE/ĐAKA NA LOKALNIM RELACIJAMA 2019-02-21

Finansijski pregled za odgovor na migrantsku situaciju u Unsko-sanskom kantonu, uz podršku Evropske unije

 

Operativni štab Ministarstva sigurnosti Bosne i Hercegovine za upravljanje migrantskom situacijom imenovao je IOM kao vodeću organizaciju koja će prioritizirati svoje aktivnosti na uspostavljanju privremenih prihvatnih centara za migrante u Unsko- sanskom kantonu.

Obzirom da je odgovor na masovni priliv migranata bila jedna od prioritetnih mjera donijetih od strane Ministarstva sigurnosti Bosne i Hercegovine u februaru 2018.g., a sa ciljem spriječavanja velikih humanitarnih i sigurnosnih problema, EU je obezbijedila sredstva u ukupnom iznosu od 9,2 miliona € koje je dodjelila IOM-u, UNHCR-u I UNICEF-u.

Bitno je spomenuti da IOM upošljava 257 osoba u Bosni I Hercegovini na humanitarnom projektu koji je odgovor na migrantsku krizu. Od toga je 177 na poslovima direktne asistencije, a 80 radi na poslovima čišćenja i održavanja. 

 

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Financial overview of the response to the migrant situation in Una-Sana Canton with the support from the European Union

 

The Operational Headquarters of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina for managing the migrant situation has appointed IOM as a leading organization that will prioritize its activities in establishing the Temporary Reception Centers for migrants in the Una-Sana Canton.

Considering that the response to the large influx of migrants was one of the priority measures adopted by the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2018, with the aim of preventing major humanitarian and security issues, the EU has provided funds in the total amount of EUR 9.2 million , allocated to IOM, UNHCR and UNICEF.

It is important to mention that IOM employs 257 local staff members on the humanitary response to the migrant crisis. From that number, 177 work in direct assistance and 80 are cleaning and maintenance staff. In Una-Sana Canton, 80 people work on direct assistance and 64 are cleaning and maintenance staff.

 

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IOM Responds to Security Incident in Humanitarian Hub “Miral”, Velika Kladusa, as seen in Video Footage

 

The Miral video footage that was shared on social media appears to show that private security guards did not deal with the incident at hand in a sufficiently restrained way and in line with the instructions and trainings provided to them by IOM and United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). In response, IOM has alerted the local police and asked them to start an investigation about what occurred preceding, during and after the video footage, and take action as required. With immediate effect, IOM has allocated additional migrant protection staff in Miral and accommodation center Bira in Bihac to work alongside private security guards to further ensure that security and safety is maintained with the full respect of human rights and dignity of all.

 

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1 million BAM from the UK Government in support of local communities in Una-Sana Canton hosting migrants and refugees

 

The project will support local authorities’ efforts to ensure improved delivery of public goods and services, both to migrants and the local population in Una-Sana Canton. The project will also support the reparation and revitalization of public spaces, such as the Bihac City Park and the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Borici.

 

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Bosnia struggles to cope with arrival of thousands of migrants

 

15 May, 2018

SARAJEVO/BIHAC (Reuters) - Bosnia is struggling to cope with the arrival of thousands of migrants and refugees, many of whom are sleeping in parks in the capital and other towns as they seek passage into western Europe. The country’s asylum center has 200 beds and 80 to 150 people have arrived each day this month, Security Minister Dragan Mektic said on Monday. About 4,000 people from Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Algeria and Afghanistan have entered Bosnia this year compared with 755 in 2017 and up to 1,500 are stuck there. Many have faced perilous journeys.

“I was sent back from Croatia six times,” said Omar from Iraq, who arrived in Bosnia with his younger brother after spending two years in Greece. Omar declined to give his last name. “I must get to Germany because all my family is there,” said the 19-year-old, echoing many others who spoke in the empty old building in Bihac near the Croatian border where he stayed.

 

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Bosnia Struggles With Thousands Of Migrants On New Route To Western Europe

 

16 May, 2018

 

Bosnia-Herzegovina is struggling to cope with an influx of thousands of migrants mostly from the Middle East trying to reach Western Europe that authorities and aid groups warn could develop into a crisis.

Bosnia's governing council met on May 15 to consider measures to deal with the thousands of migrants who have turned to the small Balkan country in recent months, trying to avoid more heavily guarded routes and borders in the Balkans. About 4,000 people from Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Algeria, and Afghanistan have entered Bosnia so far this year compared with 755 in 2017, migrant aid groups say. Most are seeking to cross the border into EU-member Croatia, and then move on toward Western Europe, but about 1,500 have remained in the country after being blocked from entering the European Union.

 

 

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Rights Official Urges Bosnia to Do More for Migrants

 

By The Associated Press
May 15, 2018

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Bosnia must do more to help migrants, a European human rights official said Tuesday as the war-scarred country struggles to cope with a growing influx of people trying to reach Western Europe through the Balkans.

Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern in a letter to Bosnian authorities over "lack of systematic response" to the situation, with migrants sleeping outdoors in Bosnia's streets and parks. "I am concerned to learn that many refugees and migrants, including families with children, sleep rough on the streets and have irregular access to food," Mijatovic wrote. "This situation cannot continue in this way."

 

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