Call for urgent humanitarian action in Lipa

To:
The responsible authorities of Bosnia And Herzegovina
Prime Minister, Mr Fadil Novalić
Chair of Council of Ministers, Mr Zoran Tegeltija
Minister of Displaced Persons and Refugees, Mr Edin Ramić
Una Sana Canton Premier, Mr Mustafa Ružnić
Mayor of the town of Bihać, Mr Šuret Fazlić
The European Commission, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ms Ylva Johansson
The EEAS, High Representative for Foreign Affairs – Security Policy, Mr Josep Borrell
The European Council, President of the Council, Mr Charles Michel

Dear,

We are extremely concerned about the current situation of 900 migrants in what is left of Lipa camp. We have learned the decision taken to transfer them to Bira camp hasn’t become effective yet. Even
though we measure the reaction of the concerned population that has shown solidarity with migrants for years, the humanitarian situation requires an urgent response, keeping people in a real winter prison is contrary to international law. The already dramatic situation has worsened following the fire at the camp, leaving people without a roof, without heating, without running water, at the mercy of the weather and food parcels.

We call on the authorities :

– to take immediate action and urgent humanitarian measures to protect migrants from the cold and provide them with dignified living conditions

– to facilitate access to an effective asylum procedure

– to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations whose working conditions are currently unsustainable

The severe human rights violations committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina are intolerable and people can’t be left facing harsh living conditions, especially in times of Covid-19.

However, Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot compensate for the lack of a solidarity based migration policy at EU’s borders. That is why we also call on the responsibility of the European authorities, the European Commission, the EEAS and the Council, to adopt a coordinated policy response at the borders of the European Union so that migrants have access to safe and legal routes to the EU, in accordance with international law and that EU member states organise the relocation of migrants in solidarity.

This relocation must be organised as a matter of urgency with regard to people coming from the Lipa camp and structurally in the future. We call on the Commission to work with the BiH authorities to ensure, for as long as this temporary solution is there, that the place is safe for all and that it has adequate infrastructure with access to running water, food and health provisions and dedicated services
for vulnerable people as well as access to education and legal aid.

The Commission must also ensure NGOs are supported in carrying out their vital work on the ground. We urge the Commission to bring truth to its promise “Leave No One Behind” and bring immediate
change for the better to the lives of migrant people. We also urge you to support the BiH authorities in strengthening the asylum system and the reception conditions.

Finally, European citizens must be informed of what is happening at the EU’s borders. Freedom of expression and press remain essential and the work of human rights activists, journalists and NGOs is
essential and must be guaranteed. Reported threats by some political actors to journalists reporting on migration situation must stop.

Yours sincerely,

The Members of the European Parliament:

BRICMONT Saskia, Greens/EFA
STRIK Tineke, Greens/EFA
MARQUARDT Erik, Greens/EFA
SCHOLZ Helmut, GUE
VOLLATH Bettina, S&D
VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL Viola, Greens/EFA
CAVAZZINI Anna, Greens/EFA
CAREME Damien, Greens/EFA
REINTKE Terry, Greens/EFA
NEUMANN Hannah, Greens/EFA
GAMON Claudia, Renew
ROOSE Caroline, Greens/EFA
JOVEVA Irena, Renew
DELBOS-CORFIELD Gwendoline, Greens/EFA
METZ Tilly, Greens/EFA
OETJEN Jan-Christoph, Renew
ARIMONT Pascal, PPE
STEFANUTA Nicolae, Renew
LANGENSIEPEN Katrin, Greens/EFA
BRGLEZ Milan, S&D
GUALMINI Elisabetta, S&D
CARVALHAIS Isabel, S&D
GEESE Alexandra, Greens/EFA
LAGODINSKY Sergey, Greens/EFA
KÖSTER Dietmar, S&D
KUHNKE Alice, Greens/EFA
EVI Eleonora, Greens/EFA group
RUIZ DEVESA Domenec, S&D
ANDRESEN Rasmus, Greens/EFA
ARVANITIS Konstantinos, GUE
BOESELAGER Damian, Greens/EFA
TOIA Patrizia, S&D
D’AMATO Rosa, Greens/EFA
BURKHARDT Delara, S&D
BIEDRON Robert, S&D
ALFONSI François, Greens/EFA
BITEAU Benoit, Greens/EFA
CORMAND David, Greens/EFA
GRUFFAT Claude, Greens/EFA
DELLI Karima, Greens/EFA
JADOT Yannick, Greens/EFA
RIVASI Michèle, Greens/EFA
SATOURI Mounir, Greens/EFA
TOUSSAINT Marie, Greens/EFA
YENBOU Salima, Greens/EFA
BISCHOFF Gabriele, S&D
ALAMETSÄ Alviina, Greens/EFA
KOULOGLOU Stelios, GUE