Across the Bosnia-Croatia border. A growing number of refugees and migrants have shared harrowing accounts of being assaulted, robbed, and forcibly returned to Bosnia by Croatian authorities. These claims come as the European Union seeks to overhaul its asylum system, a move that has only intensified the plight of those seeking refuge in Europe.

Violence and Abuse Along the Border

Refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, and Sudan have described being physically assaulted and stripped of their belongings by Croatian border guards. According to their testimonies. Many were beaten. Denied access to basic necessities. And dropped back into Bosnia, where they are left to start the journey again.

Hamid, a 54-year-old Moroccan man, said he was severely injured two years ago when Bosnian police allegedly beat him and fractured his knee, leaving him permanently disabled. He recounted stepping in to help another migrant being attacked by officers, while Since then, he has been stranded in Bihac, a small town near the Croatian border, where he sleeps in parks and abandoned buildings.

Hamid, who aims to reach his son in France, has been trying to reach Europe for four years. He said he prefers to spend his days alone on a park bench due to the trauma he experienced during the alleged attack.

Perilous Journeys and Missing Migrants

The journey from Bosnia to Croatia is perilous, with migrants crossing icy rivers and snow-capped peaks — many attempt the crossing multiple times before returning to Bihac. Others never make it back. Drowning in the Una and Sava rivers or falling victim to encounters with Croatian authorities.

In 2025. At least 22 migrants went missing along the western Balkans route, a number likely an undercount. This is because the statistics depend on families back home filing missing persons reports and knowing the last whereabouts of their loved ones.

In February, Abdul, a 29-year-old from Pakistan, found the body of another migrant in the woods while crossing into Croatia. He said he had to hide from Croatian guards before being apprehended and forcibly returned to Bosnia. Abdul recounted being held for 24 hours without food or bathroom access, beaten, and stripped of his money.

Croatian authorities have not responded to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on these incidents.

Abuses Intensify Amid Political Pressure

As the EU works to replace its existing asylum system with the New Migration Pact in June, reports of pushbacks and abuses have increased. Rights groups have criticized the policy, which they say could expedite denials and deportations while increasing surveillance of migrants.

Croatian border guards are reportedly notorious for their violence against asylum seekers. Migrants and rights groups have documented patterns of abuse, including sexual assault.

In December, three Sudanese men were found near the border without jackets or proper footwear. They were hospitalized with severe frostbite and had their legs amputated. According to the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Bosnian police have opened an investigation into the incident.

Nabil, a 26-year-old from Morocco, has attempted to cross the border five times, only to be caught, beaten, and returned to Bosnia each time. He said Croatian guards confiscate his personal items, including his phone, which is essential for navigation and communication.

Many refugees, like Nabil, find themselves in a cycle of violence and uncertainty, with no clear path forward. Without a phone, their ability to handle the treacherous terrain is severely limited.

Life in Bosnia’s Temporary Reception Centres is often described as inadequate, with poor food and prison-like conditions. Many migrants choose to sleep in the streets instead of staying in the camps. In 2021, 250 migrants were forcibly relocated from an abandoned retirement home to the Lipa camp, located about 20 kilometers outside of town.

As the world continues to grapple with the impact of global conflicts on migration, the plight of these refugees remains a stark reminder of the human cost of geopolitical tensions and flawed asylum systems.