Local police in Ljubinje and Bileca have today handed over a total of 12 Syrian migrants to the Bosnia's Border Police.

Another seven migrants who claim they come from Bangladesh were found at the eastern railroad border crossing in Zvornik in one of the boxcars on Monday. Three days earlier, two migrants from Nigeria and seven from Afghanistan were found in cargo trucks at the crossings near Raca and Popovi.

Migrants have so far been crossing the Bosnian border mainly by foot. They use three main routes to reach western European countries. Most enter through Italy, while the other routes pass through Spain and Greece. Those using the latter route attempt to enter European countries through Bosnia as well.

“This is not just a national problem of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is a problem that concerns the whole region. This is why we will react on a European level,” said Germany's ambassador to Bosnia, Christiane Hohnmann.

Germany and other western European countries are the migrant’s target destinations. Since the beginning of the year we spoke to dozens of those who see Bosnia as a transit zone. Here is what they told N1:

– “I am going to Germany, my sister is there, my mother and father are in Syria.”

– “I want to go to Belgium or Germany or other countries in Central Europe.”

– “We have no choice, we will stay for four or five days and then we will continue onward.”

Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees shows that more than 13.000 migrants entered Europe since the beginning of the year, while 486 died during the trip. More than one million migrants crossed over into Europe in 2015.

Although this number has decreased, the number of migrants entering Bosnia has been rising. Recent speculations in local media stating that some 1.000 migrants may arrive in in the country have not been confirmed by the border police.

“All those numbers that are being mentioned indicate that, with the improving weather conditions, this pressure will also increase on our country, respectively on Bosnia's borders,” said the Director of Bosnia's Border Police, Zoran Galic.

Throughout 2017, Bosnia registered a total of 754 migrants. However, only since the beginning of this year, 749 migrants were found having crossed into the country while 847 were prevented from doing so.