A crisis of protection and safe passage: violence experienced by migrants/refugees travelling along the Western Balkan corridor to Northern Europe

Abstract

BackgroundPushed by ongoing conflicts and pulled by the desire for a better life, over one million migrants/refugees transited Balkan countries and arrived in Europe during 2015 and early 2016. To curb this influx, European countries instituted restrictive migration policies often characterized by building of razor-wire border fences and border closures. Among migrants/refugees who received mental health care in Serbia while travelling through Balkan countries to Northern Europe, we assessed the prevalence and patterns of violent events experienced including physical trauma.MethodsA mixed methods study among migrants/refugees attending mobile mental health clinics run by Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) between July 2015 and June 2016, in Serbia – a main transit hub to European countries. Clinics were conducted according to MSF guidelines by experienced psychologists who were supported by cultural mediators. The main outcome measures were violent events and associated physical trauma.ResultsOf 992 migrants/refugees attending MSF mental health clinics, the majority (72%) were from Syria and Afghanistan and included vulnerable groups (14%) such as unaccompanied minors and pregnant women. The most frequent mental health symptoms/signs were anxiety (29%) and adjustment reactions (26%). Of the 992 migrants/refugees, 270 (27%) had experienced violent events during their journey. Signs of physical trauma due to acts of violence were seen in 223(22%) of the 992 individuals, 144 (65%) being perpetrated by State authorities and involving women (11%) and children (13%).Border closures along the Balkan route were associated with a dramatic decrease in registered migrants/refugee arrivals in Serbia. Conversely, among those that made it across the borders, an increasing linear trend in reported violent events was observed at MSF mental health clinics (X 2 for linear trend, P <0 · 001). Qualitative evidence corroborated with quantitative findings.ConclusionsNearly one-in-three migrants/refugees seen in MSF clinics experienced violent events including physical trauma along their journey. State authorities, including those in European countries were the perpetrators in over half of such events which were associated with border closures. There is “a crisis of protection and safe passage” which needs to change towards one of respect for the principles of international human rights and refugee law.

Understanding Refugees' Health

“…A study by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that more than 80% of the refugees crossing the borders experience mental health problems, while more than a third of the refugees have experienced psychological and physical violence during their way to Europe. 31 In more than 50% of cases, physical violence has been attributed to state officials, such as border guards. 31 Since the border closings in Europe, the frequency of physical violence has significantly increased.…”

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“…Asylum-seekers arriving in Hungary in 2015 showed a variety of countries of origin: those arriving in the first two months were mainly from Kosovo, but from the spring the numbers from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan increased dramatically (Juh asz et al, 2015). Vulnerable groups composed almost three quarters of asylum-seekers arriving to the Hungarian border, according to Arsenijevic et al (2017).…”

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