Many migrants realize that their dreams about life in Europe will not be fulfilled.
“I want to go back to Syria, because I do not need this kind of humiliation. I regret that I even came here. I have spent all I had, more than 6,000 dollars, and now I will go back with nothing and start from the beginning, said Mohamad Jalaleddin Nakchbandi from Syria, who was returned from Germany 15 days ago and is currently located at the Porin accommodation centre in Zagreb. He added that he would prefer to die in their own country rather than to live in such a humiliating way, reports Večernji List on January 23, 2017.
Croatia is being hit by a new wave of migrants, but this time the migrants are coming from the West. European countries have begun to return migrants who were registered in Croatia during their passage through the Balkan route about a year ago. The largest number of migrants is being returned from Germany since Chancellor Angela Merkel, under increasing pressure, reactivated the Dublin Agreement and began returning migrants to the first EU country which they entered.
“I have passed through the Balkan route and Croatia, and I was in Germany for 14 months. Germany refused me asylum, so I had to return to the first EU country which I entered. According to explanation given by Germans, the refusal of asylum and return to Croatia are in line with the Dublin Agreement because, according to their statements, I have given my fingerprints in Croatia. However, I did not give any fingerprints in Croatia until a few days ago, when I was questioned. Even the police officer was shocked because I was not registered”, said Nakchbandi.
“Croatia is not ready for a huge wave of migrants and asylum-seekers, which other European countries will certainly return to Croatia. In the Porin centre, in which we are currently accommodated, the conditions are catastrophic. There are five of us in one room, from different countries, which often leads to disputes, thefts and fights. We get 100 kuna per month, which is not enough even for coffee. I am sure that more than 20 percent of those who came to Croatia will be returned here. There are people who have already received asylum, but have been returned to Croatia because they left their fingerprints here first”, said Mohamad.
According to Croatian Interior Ministry, at the end of 2016 there were 3,493 migrants who had passed through the country and for whom other EU states said they would return them to Croatia. However, the final figure could be much higher due to the fact that EU countries are returning migrants to Croatia every day.
Alali Mohamad Hussein from Syria, who was returned to Croatia two months ago for the same reason, said that at Porin there are so many people they have to sleep on mattresses in the corridors. “My dreams of life in Europe have been destroyed, and my reality is to return to my country and live with dignity, regardless of all the difficulties. I was in Austria for a year, but they said that I had given my fingerprints in Croatia, which is not true”, said Hussein, adding that he was returned to Croatia where there is no perspective and which is not prepared for the arrival of migrants.
“I have lost my entire life savings. Since I came to Croatia, more than a thousand migrants have been returned here. However, they are all fleeing again. No one wants to stay in Croatia”, said Hussein, noting that every night a group of five to ten people leaves for a journey through Italy to France.
