IOM Warns of Growing Social Tension in Bosnia Over Migrants

The world's leading inter-governmental organisation dealing with migration has warned in a document released on Wednesday that the COVID-19 panic is adding to existing strains between host communities and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"There is a deterioration of social cohesion in these communities and a potential for the deterioration of relations between host and migrant communities," the International Organization for Migration, IOM, said in its Crisis Response Plan for 2021 in Bosnia and Herzegovina

"Host communities of migrant and refugee reception centres have been increasingly falling prey to xenophobic narratives, fueled by a lack of sense of control over political and migration management decisions in their communities and socio-economic issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic", the IOM added.

The document says the COVID-19 pandemic has added to strains on host communities, with psychosocial strain and social alienation leading to increased online manipulation by extremist groups and the rise of xenophobia.

The report notes that the flow of migrants to Bosnia has become larger, and says the continued presence of migrants and asylum seekers, combined with the nationalist and divisive rhetoric used by politicians and the media, could worsen instability and fragility in the post-war country.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted on the health and wellbeing of the migrants in Bosnia, the report says; they are particularly affected by poor access to health services, proper sanitation, hygiene facilities and personal protective equipment, PPE.

The IOM suggests that migrants and refugees should be factored into Bosnia's national COVID vaccination plans.

Bosnia's authorities have struggled to respond to...