Since mid-2018, the transit corridors from Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia through Bosnia-Herzegovina have become those favored by refugees, asylum seekers and migrants attempting to enter the EU. Two of the best entry points, on the Western Balkan route, are considered to be the cities of Bihac and Velika Kladuza, located near the Bosnian-Croatian border. The efforts made, under terribly challenging conditions, by these desperate people to cross into the EU without detection by the Croatian police has been dubbed "The Game" by the refugees themselves. Winning "The Game" means entry, losing meaning being pushed back to the starting point, sometimes even back to Greece or a complete deportation from Europe. In 2021 approximately 15,000 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants arrived into Bosnia-Herzegovina. of these about two hundreds were unaccompanied children. The situation of the people sent back and stuck on the Bosnian-Croatian border is miserable. They are in immediate need of adequate shelter, warm clothes, nutritious food and medical assistance. Currently their conditions have substantially worsened due to frigid weather and the Covid-19 pandemic.
January 2022
The Zafari Family, fleeing persecution and death in Afghanistan, on the streets of Velika Kladuza city after being pushed back by Croatian police while trying to cross the Bosnian-Croatian border the night before. The family is looking for a place to stay in one of the abandoned buildings of the city, or in the surrounding woods, before trying to cross the border again in the coming days/weeks. On Jawid Zafari's backpack (center), a small pink toy for his young child to play with, while the family is on the move, looking to find refuge in the EU.
A sign warning of landmines in the woods of Prsine Uvale mountain, near the Bosnian-Croatian border, at the outskirts of the city of Bihac, Bosnia.
Many refugees try to cross the border into Croatia via a route in the woods of the mountain. risking their lives walking in areas where landmines are scattered, remnants from the 1990's civil war in the country.
A group of Afghan refugees warming themselves inside an abandoned building, where they stay, before going to "The Game", a nickname given by refugees to their relentless attempts, crossing the Bosnian-Croatian border, without being detected and pushed back by Croatian border police.
Bihac, Bosnia.
A group of Afghan refugees heading back from Bihac city towards Lipa camp for refugees and migrants stuck in Bosnia. They were pushed back by Croatian border police after trying to cross the border into Croatia a few days before.
A few hundreds to a few thousands refugees and migrants live in the Lipa camp, some stay for a longer period, others for a few days, then try to cross the Bosnian-Croatian border.
A refugee from Iran is being helped by his friend and a medic from SOS Bihac, a local organisation helping refugees. The man slipped after being pushed back with his fellow refugees friends, by Croatian police, while trying to cross the Bosnian-Croatian border near the city of Bihac, Bosnia.
Unmarked graves (center + left) for refugees who died while trying to cross the Bonisan-Croatian border, in Gradsko Groblje cemetery, Bihac. Bosnia. 8 refugees are buried in the cemetery, their names and identity unknown.
Refugees from Afghanistan and Pakistan, warm themselves by a fire, in an abandoned building in the city of Bihac.
getting ready to go to "The Game", a nickname given by refugees to their relentless attempts, crossing the Bosnian-Croatian border, without being detected and pushed back by Croatian border police.
A refugee from Afghanistan, washes his face. he and another refugee live in out in the open, in the outskirts of Bihac city.
Many refugees consider Bihac and Velika Kladuza (another city to the north of Bihac) as a point for entering the EU via the Bosnian-Croatian border. both cities are located a few kilometres from the border.
A refugee from Afghanistan (center) praying in one of the mosques of the city of Bihac.
during Friday prayers some refugees are going to the mosques in the city in order to pray.
A group of refugees from Iran (2 of them on the right), who were pushed back by the Croatian border police while trying to cross the Bosnian-Croatian border, waiting on the main road near Bihac city. Bosnian police called the SOS Bihac organisation to come and help the refugees.
An abandoned jungle camp for refugees, at the outskirts of Velika Kladuza, a city located a few kilometres from the Bosnian-Croatian border.
Refugees who lived in the camp, waiting to go for "The Game", had to leave it and look for abandoned houses to live in, as harsh winter weather comes. when the spring time arrives refugees go back and stay in this jungle camp.
A group of Afghan refugees heading out of an abandon building they stayed in, for "The Game", a nickname given by refugees to their relentless attempts, crossing the Bosnian-Croatian border, without being detected and pushed back by Croatian border police.
Bihac, Bosnia.
A refugee from Iran getting treatment inside an ambulance operated by SOS Bihac, a local organisation helping refugees. The man slipped after being pushed back with his fellow refugees friends, by Croatian police, while trying to cross the Bosnian-Croatian border near the city of Bihac, Bosnia.
Refugees from Afghanistan, living in an abandon building in Velika Kladuza, a city located a few kilometres from the Bosnian-Croatian border. together with Bihac they are considered as the best starting point for "The Game" a nickname given by refugees to their relentless attempts, crossing the Bosnian-Croatian border, without being detected and pushed back by Croatian border police.
A window covered with blankets in order to keep the heat inside, in an abandoned building, being used by refugees in the Velika Kladuza a city located a few kilometres from the Bosnian-Croatian border. together with Bihac they are considered as the best starting point for "The Game" a nickname given by refugees to their relentless attempts, crossing the Bosnian-Croatian border, without being detected and pushed back by Croatian border police.
A refugees from Afghanistan, feeding ducks alongside the Una river, Bihac city. many refugees getting physical as well as mental problems from trying to cross the Bosnian-Croatian border time after time, being pushed back by the Croatian border police. Together with Velika Kladuza they are considered as the best starting point for "The Game" a nickname given by refugees to their relentless attempts, crossing the Bosnian-Croatian border, without being detected and pushed back by Croatian border police.