Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.22586/ss.19(2019).1.11
The Gašinci Refugee Centre 1992-1999
Marija Rotim
orcid.org/0000-0002-1162-0366
Nikolina Vuković
orcid.org/0000-0003-0906-4281
Abstract
On the basis of unpublished archival materials, periodicals and the relevant scholarly literature the authors have given an account of the existence, the work and the role of the Gašinci Refugee Centre from its opening in 1992 up until its closing in 1999. The aim has been to note the humanitarian activities of the Croatian government and of various humanitarian organizations in hosting primarily Muslim refugees from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Refugee Centre. This paper elaborates the reasons and the purpose of the establishment of the Centre in Gašinci, presents its accommodation capacities and determines the living conditions of the refugees in the Centre. Furthermore, the functioning of the Gašinci Refugee Centre was based on the assurance of a high quality of social and religious life which was necessarily carried out in communication and coexistence with the Đakovo region. Hence, this paper presents the forms of social and religious life and of humanitarian organizations that supported the implementation of numerous projects as well as the establishment and the functioning of the Refugee Centre. Because of the specific circumstances of politics and the war, the end of the paper discusses the potential escalation of ethnic conflicts in the Centre and the Đakovo region due to Croatian-Muslim conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as to certain animosities between the refugees and other deprived persons in Gašinci in need of accommodation.
Seven whole years, from the establishment of the Refugee Camp in Gašinci on May 31, 1992 until its closure on October 18, 1999, more than 30,000 refugees found shelter in Gašinci from the raging war. Most of the refugees in the Gašinci Centre were Muslim refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there was also a small number of Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina living among them. In view of political circumstances and the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gašinci was a potential “powder keg” in Slavonia, which was just recovering from the events of the war. Despite the major economic, political and social burdens the Croatian government had to fight, it provided unstinting financial and social support for refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina regardless of their confession and nationality. The Croatian government along with humanitarian organizations ensured the living standards for the refugees who stayed an unexpectedly long time in the Gašinci Refugee Centre. This was proven by the endeavour to secure the most adequate accommodation, high-quality and suitable nutrition, health care, education and the realisation of refugee rights in accordance with the Geneva Convention and the Croatian laws. Furthermore, a diverse and rich social life contributed to the normalization of everyday life in exile. The unconstrained practice of Islam and the enthusiasm of the representatives of the international community about the quality of human and inter-confessional relationships indicated there was religious tolerance even during critical periods such as the time of the Croatian-Muslim conflicts. Eventually, the largest refugee centre in the territory of the Republic of Croatia overcame the cultural and political diversities during the turbulent times of the new history of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina thanks to the cooperation of the Croatian government, of humanitarian organizations and the solidarity of the Croatian population of the Đakovo region toward the most threatened group hit by war – the refugees.
Keywords
Gašinci Refugee Centre; refugees; displaced persons; Muslims; Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hrčak ID:
231748
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2019.
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