RFE
10 Dec 2019, 23:45 GMT+10
Bosnian authorities have begun moving migrants from a makeshift tent camp near the country's northwestern border with EU member Croatia, following harsh international criticism of the improper conditions hundreds of people were being kept in.
The closing of the Vucjak camp, which the Red Cross estimates is housing some 600 migrants, had been scheduled for December 9, but was postponed for one day.
An RFE/RL correspondent said that buses carrying migrants began departing the Vucjak camp near the town of Bihac around 1 p.m. (1200 GMT/UTC) on December 10. Migrants will be relocated to a temporary reception center in Usivak, near Sarajevo, and in Salakovac, 250 kilometers away in western Bosnia-Herzegovina.
They are to be relocated later to the former Blazuj army barracks, near Sarajevo.
'We expect that all migrants from Vucjak will be moved today and the camp finally closed, but activities are still going on,' Bihac police spokesman Ale Siljdedic said.
Aid groups have repeatedly warned that the Vucjak camp is located on a former landfill and close to a mine field from Bosnia's 1992-95 war, and has no running water or toilets. Living conditions worsened further after snow started falling last week.
The relocation was first announced on December 6 by Bosnian Security Minister Dragan Mektic.
The decision to close the camp came after Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights, visited Vucjak last week and warned that deaths would be imminent if the camp was not closed at once. 'If we don't close the camp today, tomorrow people will start dying here,' Mijatovic told reporters while visiting the snow-covered camp.
However, many of the migrants earlier said they do not want to be moved farther away from the border despite the improper living conditions.
Most migrants flocked to the northwestern part of Bosnia because they want to continue their journey to Western Europe's more prosperous countries by illegally passing through Croatia.
There are presently an estimated 7,000-8,000 migrants in Bosnia. They have been stranded there for months after arriving from neighboring Serbia or Montenegro.
Bosnian authorities have struggled to accommodate thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
With reporting by Reuters
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Birmingham Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Birmingham Star.
More InformationGENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
LONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
VENICE, Italy: Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters marched through the narrow streets of Venice to voice their opposition to billionaire...
PARIS, France: L'Oréal is making a fresh play in the booming premium haircare segment with a new acquisition. The French beauty conglomerate...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
MENLO PARK, California: Robinhood is giving European investors a new way to tap into America's most prominent tech names — without...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The U.S. dollar continues to lose ground, weighed down by growing concerns over Washington's fiscal outlook...
SANTA CLARA, California: Executives at Nvidia have quietly been cashing in on the AI frenzy. According to a report by the Financial...
EVERGLADES, Florida: Over the weekend, a diverse coalition of environmental activists, Native American leaders, and residents gathered...