In the cities along the Drina River, which marks the natural border between Bosnia and Serbia, a solemn and significant sight can be found. Simple yet sturdy gravestones now replace the decaying wooden markers that once stood, serving as a final resting place for dozens of migrants who tragically lost their lives attempting to reach Western Europe. These individuals, from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, met their untimely demise in their quest for a better life, their remains retrieved from the Bosnian side of the river and laid to rest in local cemeteries.
Since 2017, a total of 41 bodies have been recovered from the Drina River, unidentified and unclaimed. It is an unfortunate reality that they were buried with no loved ones to honor their passing. However, these newly placed gravestones serve not only as a memorial but also as a beacon for any potential family members who may one day come looking for answers.
The efforts to commemorate these nameless victims have been spearheaded by a dedicated group of local volunteers. Nihad Suljic, a 34-year-old office administrator from Tuzla, has been an activist for more than seven years, advocating for the rights and dignity of migrants passing through Bosnia. As a child who experienced the horrors of war, Suljic felt a deep connection to the desperate travelers seeking refuge in his country. Over the years, he has offered assistance, shelter, and support to hundreds of migrants in need.
In the summer of 2022, Suljic received a heartfelt plea for help from an Afghan migrant who had settled in Western Europe. The Afghan man sought assistance in locating a young compatriot who had reportedly drowned in the Drina near the town of Zvornik. Devastated by the Afghan family's desperate plea to find their missing son, Suljic embarked on a mission to contact local authorities and forensic specialists who could aid in identifying the young man's remains.
In Bijeljina, a nearby city, Dr. Vidak Simic has been examining the bodies of migrants and refugees recovered from the river. Under local laws, bone samples are collected from unidentified bodies before they are buried. These samples are kept for six months, giving families a chance to come forward and provide a DNA sample for comparison. Driven by compassion and a desire to help, Simic has extended the storage of these bone samples beyond the mandated timeframe. He advocates for mandatory DNA testing and the creation of an online database accessible to relatives searching for missing loved ones in the Balkans.
Dr. Simic's dedication and Suljic's determination led to a breakthrough in the search for the missing Afghan migrant. With the help of the doctor and local officials, the family was able to obtain a DNA sample, identify their son, and repatriate his body for a proper burial in their hometown.
Inspired by this success, Suljic reached out to municipal officials, funeral homes, and NGOs dedicated to supporting migrants to propose a project that would bring dignity to the nameless graves scattered along the Drina. The idea was met with enthusiasm, and with financial support from SOS Balkanroute, a Vienna-based human rights organization, the graves in three towns along the river were renovated. The decaying wooden markers were replaced with black marble gravestones, and in Bijeljina, 41 trees were planted as a symbolic tribute to the unidentified individuals laid to rest there. A memorial was erected, bearing the inscription, 'Migrants and refugees in whose memory these trees were planted are buried here; we will never forget you and your dreams that were cut short in the Drina River.'
The efforts to honor these victims reflect a prolonged commitment to preserving their dignity and ensuring that if their families ever come searching for them, they will have a place to pay their respects. These gravestones stand not only as a somber reminder of the challenges faced by migrants in their journey but also as a testament to the resilience and compassion of the volunteers and individuals involved in this project.
While the tragedy of lives lost and dreams unfulfilled cannot be undone, the act of remembrance brings a sense of closure and acknowledgment to the nameless victims who now rest peacefully beside the river that claimed their lives. May these gravestones serve as a lasting reminder of the human toll of migration and encourage compassion and empathy in the face of a global crisis.
