Powerbank

At first glance, it looks like a simple electronic accessory, one of the countless objects millions of people carry with them every day. But along the migration route that cuts through the Balkans, a power bank can make the difference between finding your way and getting lost, between staying in touch and falling completely off the grid. This device belonged to a Sub-Saharan migrant travelling the Balkan route, and it served one purpose: keeping his phone alive during the long walks through forests and mountains, often days away from any source of electricity.

For those making this journey, power becomes as precious a resource as water or food. In the informal camps and temporary settlements that spring up around towns like Bihać and Velika Kladuša, charging a phone or a portable battery can mean long waits and jostling for space at outlets shared by many people at once. Migrants will often carry more than one power bank, knowing full well that along the way there will be no other chance to recharge.

This power bank was recovered following a pushback at the Bosnia-Croatia border. The group carrying it was intercepted in the middle of the night and forced to turn back. During the search, many of their belongings were confiscated or damaged. In this case, the light-blue power bank was smashed and stamped on until the battery swelled and began to smoke.