prijava
SARAJEVO, April 7 (FENA) - Soon after the war in Ukraine started by the end of February this year, over 300 refugees from Ukraine, the vast majority of them being women and children, have since found their temporary haven in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly in Medjugorje, where they were warmly welcomed by their host communities who showed great generosity. Entering BiH was not difficult for Ukrainian citizens since there is in place a 30-days no-visa regime.
Soon after the war in Ukraine started by the end of February this year, over 300 refugees from Ukraine, the vast majority of them being women and children, have since found their temporary haven in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly in Medjugorje, where they were warmly welcomed by their host communities who showed great generosity. Entering BiH was not difficult for Ukrainian citizens since there is in place a 30-days no-visa regime.
Uncertain about the future of Ukraine with new developments every day, having left a husband, a brother, a father or other family members behind, hope to return as soon as the situation would stabilize, is in the mind of each of them.
They, therefore, need a flexible and temporary solution that would warrant their protection. And it is for those reasons that more than 25 European countries have adopted the temporary protection directive option that offers Ukrainians the right to legally stay and access services since the usual asylum procedures in place in most countries are not meeting the needs of this population at this point in time. Unfortunately, in BiH, the authorities have not yet put this option in place.
For some of these people in need of international protection, the 30 days of stay in BiH have passed now and most of them decided to continue their journeys out of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the hope to find a country that can provide them with better legal protection and solutions. They are finding themselves on the road again exposed to numerous risks.
UNHCR and the Red Cross have been coordinating efforts with other humanitarian organizations to assist refugees from Ukraine, however, the most important assistance that these people need are responsible and appropriate decisions by the authorities - Temporary Protection directive must be adopted as soon as possible, and it is critical that information on the options these refugees have be provided to them to avoid any unnecessary further displacement.
Even though actions should have been taken from the first day the Ukrainian refugees started arriving, there is still time to react, to at least protect the refugees that are still in the country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, with assistance from major national and international organizations, can offer adequate support and assistance to ensure the vulnerable Ukrainian refugees, are not further exposed to numerous protection risks by initiating another journey to safety.
UNHCR, whose global mandate is to provide support to governments to protect refugees, stands ready to advise and support the authorities in BiH on reception conditions, communication with the refugee population, protection activities and durable solutions.
Collaboration with key actors will ensure a better and timely response and provide refugees from Ukraine the protection they deserve, stated UNHCR.
(FENA) S. R.
