Migrants brave Bosnia’s winter wilderness to cross into EU
Dozens of migrants trudge with their children through snow-covered smuggling route inhabited by bears and wolves as they try to reach Croatia – and the EU
- Migrants are still seen trying to enter the EU illegally via Croatia despite bitter winter temperatures of -10c
- Around 30 men, women and children were seen walking to Bosnia’s western border through thick pine forest
- More than 23,000 migrants, mostly from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran, entered Bosnia since January
- Bosnia has become a transit country as other states including Hungary and Slovenia have closed their borders
Dozens of migrants tramped towards Bosnia’s border with Croatia, trying to cross illegally into the EU along a route that days earlier almost claimed the lives of a similar group.
About 30 men, women and children, some dressed only in tracksuits, were seen following a snow-covered route established by smugglers late on Wednesday.
In an area frequented by wolves and bears, it takes them to the foot of the Pljesevica mountain from where they are directed to walk several kilometres through thick pine forest to a border crossing not monitored by Croatian police.
The group of migrants attempt to illegally cross the border into Croatia on the Pljesevica Mountain. More than 23,000 migrants, most from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran, have entered Bosnia since January.
Dozens of migrants tramped towards Bosnia’s border with Croatia, trying to cross illegally into the EU along a route that days earlier almost claimed the lives of a similar group. Bosnia was bypassed in 2015 and 2016 when more than a million migrants passed through the Balkans on their way to western Europe
One man carries a child on his shoulders as he attempts to make the border crossing into Croatia and into the EU. Even if they cross into Croatia, where they will hope to apply for asylum, most are likely to be returned to Bosnia
A migrant smokes while attempting to illegally cross the border into Croatia. Croatian watchdog Border Violence Monitoring published a video on Sunday that showed armed police kicking refugees and illegally pushing them back into Bosnian territory
The migrants, including a child below, have braved the bitter cold to make the dangerous crossing. About 30 men, women and children, some dressed only in tracksuits, were seen following a snow-covered route established by smugglers late on Wednesday
Some made peace signs, but most were in too much of a hurry to talk. Ali, a 26-year-old from Algiers, stopped briefly to say he was not afraid of the winter as a Reuters photographer measured the temperature at 10 degrees Celsius below zero.
Even if they cross into Croatia, where they will hope to apply for asylum, most are likely to be returned to Bosnia.
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Croatia denies accusations that its border police mistreat such migrants, though Croatian watchdog Border Violence Monitoring published a video on Sunday that showed armed police kicking refugees and illegally pushing them back into Bosnian territory.
On the same day, Bosnian rescuers saved two dozens migrants who got trapped in a snowstorm trying to cross the mountain, some of whom were badly frostbitten.
Bosnia has since become a major transit country as other states, notably EU members Hungary and Slovenia, have sealed their borders. In an area frequented by wolves and bears, it takes them to the foot of the Pljesevica mountain
Ali, aged 26, from Algeria, left, and his friend, right, attempt to illegally cross the border into Croatia on the Pljesevica Mountain near Bihac, Bosnia. Ali stopped briefly to say he was not afraid of the winter as a Reuters photographer measured the temperature at-10c
The migrants attempt to walk across Bosnia’s western border to Croatia, often through thick forest. About 5,000 are now stuck in Bosnia, as the cold winter and Croatian police make it virtually impossible for them to continue their journey
Bosnia has since become a major transit country as other states, notably EU members Hungary and Slovenia, have sealed their borders.
It was bypassed in 2015 and 2016 when more than a million migrants passed through the Balkans on their way to western Europe.
More than 23,000 migrants, most from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran, have entered Bosnia since January.
About 5,000 are now stuck there, as the cold winter and Croatian police make it virtually impossible for them to continue their journey.
‘We have only one option to go to Europe, to cross these borders,’ Wali Khan from Afghanistan told Reuters last week in the northwestern town of Bihac near the Croatian border.
Khan said he had been arrested by Croatian police three times and returned to Bosnia. ‘If there was peace in Afghanistan, we wouldn’t be here.’
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