Dense smoke clouds rise from a Lipa Migrant Camp on Wednesday 23, 2020. This migrant camp is established near Bihac (Croatia) in the western part of Bosnia. A fire has been broken down near the northwestern side of Bosnia. This migrant area has been in the focus of the right authorities because of the poor and ricking in the tent facility. Thick black clouds of smoke have been seen on Wednesday 23rd December rising from the camp that is few miles away from the Croatia border. Currently Lips Migrant Camp is the house of more than 1200 migrants. The main cause of the fire break out is still unknown because migrants were seen running here and there in panic at that time. However, no injuries are reported yet.
A Brief Report about Fire Break Out Near Northwestern Side of Bosnia
On Wednesday 23 December, a huge fire breaks out near Bihac Bosnia. This incident happened near a temporary Lipa camp on the northwestern side of Bosnia. This fire breakout is immediately criticized by the right authorities as it is unsuitable to control the fire at that time due to its lack of resources needed for this type of incident.
Dense black clouds of smoke have been seen rising from the Lipa Camp near Croatia that is currently the house of 1399 migrants. Bosnia plays the role of a bottleneck for thousands of migrants. These migrants are living in tents in Lipa Camp and trying to get in connection with the adjoining EU member Croatia. This way will lead them to head towards the richer parts of EU nations.
Divided nations have refused to accept this group of people in their areas that is why most of the migrants are struck in northwestern Bosnia near the Krajina region.
As the orders from high authorities, Lipa Camp was assumed to be closed on Wednesday and all migrants should move to another spot. Officials of the right groups have made it clear that all the facilities and tents of Lipa Camp were almost destroyed in this incident. It is impossible for them to move migrants to another spot.
In an interview, Peter Van Der (Migration’s Chief Officer of Mission in Bosnia’s International Organization) said that “according to inner resources and as far as we know, fire in Lipa Camp was actually caused by a group of former residents immediately after most of the migrants were moved out.”
Van Der Auweraert later made a tweet on Wednesday and said “luckily no injuries and human losses have been reported at this time but quite huge disaster has occurred.”
Later with an interview with reporters, he said “fire is in our control but most of the tents are either completely burned or damaged.” He further added that “most of the camp migrants are still hanging around the incidental area because there is no compatible accommodation available in Bosnia to transport them.”
He said that some of the migrants quickly headed towards the Croatia border as quickly as possible. Some migrants have decided to travel towards the Sarajevo capital of Bosnia. Some migrants adjusted to stay around the Bihac area till the winters. These migrants got to adjust in the tents of Squatter’s camp.
Few witnesses have reported that fire was first broke out in the fuel storage facility. Due to fuel, the fire quickly reached the tents where migrants were living.
The camp director Natasa Omerovic said had an interview with Bosnian Klix.ba. and told the news portal that this mishap was started because the closure plan of the camp was quickly spread and it triggered fights among migrants.
Earlier the fire incident, she said that “migrants are not happy with the closure decision. We hear them cursing and accusing the state of their condition.” After the firebreak out she said to reporters that “as we have investigated, the tents are set on fire in a row and I think the main issue here is the vandalism.”
Lipa Camp was the temporary shelter for migrants that were set up by summer to cope-up with the pandemic and lockdown. European Union has already warned the Bosnian officials that thousands of migrants will spend freezing winter nights without any facility. EU has urged the Bosnian quarreling political parties to set aside their differences and come to a conclusion. Bosnia has its first snow earlier this month and thousands of migrants are forced to sleep in makeshift tents in freezing winter without any facility.
Bosnian Migrants are alleged for violence and pushback with the mobile police at Croatian Border.
Stay connected with The UK Time for further reports about fire break out incident.
