Forgotten Border

The film Green Border about the situation of refugees in the no man's land between Belarus and Poland made headlines for weeks. Many try to enter the EU illegally to seek their fortune here. But even those who make it across the border of the European Union must fear being forcibly returned despite the right to asylum.

This also applies to the border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. In August 2021 alone, the NGO Danish Refugee Council registered 1,245 pushback cases here, and around 16,000 in 2020 as a whole. 

The refugees have nothing more than what they are carrying on their journey - clothes, mobile phones, cash. But after a pushback, they often don't even have that. This is because the Croatian border guards often take their money, sometimes destroy their mobile phones or even take bags of clothes and throw them back across the border to Bosnia. There are many reminders on the way to the border crossing.


Der Film Green Border über die Lage der Flüchtlinge im Niemandsland zwischen Belarus und Polen sorgte wochenlang für Schlagzeilen. Viele versuchen es auf illegalen Wegen in die EU, um hier ihr Glück zu suchen. Aber auch wer es über die Grenze der Europäischen Union geschafft hat, muss fürchten, trotz Asylrecht gewaltsam zurückgebracht zu werden.

Auch an der Grenze zwischen Bosnien-Herzegowina und Kroatien. Allein im August 2021 registrierte die NGO Danish Refugee Council hier 1.245 Pushback-Fälle, in ganz 2020 rund 16.000.

Die Flüchtlinge haben auf ihrem Weg nicht mehr, als was sie am Leib tragen – Kleidung, Handy, Bargeld. Doch nach einem Pushback haben sie oft nicht einmal mehr das. Denn oft wird ihnen von den kroatischen Grenzern das Geld abgenommen, manchmal das Handy zerstört oder gar Taschen mit Kleidung abgenommen und über die Grenze zurück nach Bosnien geworfen. Vieles liegt mahnend auf dem Weg zum Grenzübergang.

 

About me

Making the invisible visible is one of my principles as a photographer. I tell stories about people, their lives and their problems with quiet tones. As a trained journalist, I often mix reportage work and artistic photography.

In my work, I look behind the façade and address social, ecological and psychological issues. I make images with a strong aesthetic appeal, which also convey a message that encourages reflection and promotes social awareness.

Every photo tells a story, be it about diversity, equality, sustainability or other issues that I support passionately. My photos are meant to encourage people to think outside the box, challenge preconceptions and create a world where aesthetics and social awareness go hand in hand.

Contact

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