Banja Luka residents join aid efforts for refugees and migrants in BiH

BANJA LUKA, (Patria) - A group of volunteers from Banja Luka has launched an aid campaign for migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Facebook social network, titled "Support Group for Migrants - Banja Luka."

Volunteers from Banja Luka state: "A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in BiH regarding the treatment of refugees and migrants who are mostly passing through our country in search of a safer and better life. At the same time, institutions and international organizations are doing a devastatingly small amount compared to the needs on the ground and the obligations imposed by domestic laws and international conventions. This tragic situation has been ongoing since spring, and the cold weather has made this tragedy much greater. Every day, we see images confirming that this is also a crisis of morality and humanity. Less than 50 km from our city, in Ključ, migrants are sleeping under the open sky at temperatures below freezing, and the situation in Bihać and Velika Kladuša is even worse. There is a lack of food, clothing, medicine, shelter, volunteers..."

Volunteers further state: "Interested group members will decide on activities together, and for starters, we have proposed several areas of action.

Volunteering – primarily in critical areas, in coordination with organizations operating there.

Humanitarian activities – ad hoc campaigns to collect food, clothing, footwear, blankets, etc. for critical areas and permanent collection points.

Media – together with interested journalists, we will work on raising awareness about migrants.

Legal assistance – accurate and useful information for migrants, as well as the general public, in accordance with the prescribed obligations for dealing with foreigners, refugees, and displaced persons, as well as international conventions.

Cooperation with other organizations – we will coordinate activities and consider the activities carried out by other organizations in BiH and the region."

The action coordinators told Patria that they are currently working on forming a wider team of volunteers to help refugees and migrants. They expect group members to be able to dedicate at least two hours per week to group activities.