Up to 1400 people are living in abandoned buildings, old factories and outdoor makeshift camps on the hostile Bosnia/Serbia border the main struggle in all spots is how to cope with the violent pushbacks suffered when entering neighboring countries, mainly Croatia, and how the trauma diminishes people's resilience to face the lack of shelter, food, clean water, electricity, healthcare, shoes and warm clothes. Grassroots volunteers are there giving essential food, clothes & hygiene with our help.
More than 25,000 new arrivals were registered in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2020. Up to 1,400 are in one border area surviving in makeshift settlements occupying abandoned buildings, old factories and makeshift outdoor camps. The main struggle for everyone is the trauma suffered by violent push-backs at the border which weakens human resilience in the face of extreme hardship. Here people struggle to face their lack of shelter, food, clean water, electricity, healthcare, shoes and warm clothes.
Volunteers are present in the area focused on promoting dignity and improving the psychological wellbeing of the people on the move. For this specific project volunteers are providing clothes, underwear and shoes, first aid and hygiene packs and essential meals - items with a high symbolism for people in their feeling of dignity and respect. It's intended to purchase new items locally to support the local economy which has suffered deeply with the effects of COVID-19.
The project will support the mental well-being of recipients of emergency clothes packs, hot meals, hygiene and first aid packs which could affect their long-term ability to survive and rebuild their life. The purchases will support local people and improve relations between locals and refugees.
