The UN's team in Bosnia is closely following the development of situation with refugees and migrants, who departed on Friday morning from Sarajevo to the refugee centre Salakovac, in the south of the country, said UNHCR Spokesman for the Southeast Europe Neven Crvenkovic.

A convoy carrying some 270 migrants left the Bosnian capital early Friday morning but was prevented from entering the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) where the centre is located. The HNC police acted upon the order of a police commissioner, who was unavailable to explain his decision.

“Migrants and refugees, as well as children, suffered enough. They are only put under additional stress with this. We call on authorities to meet all humanitarian needs of the refugees and migrants as soon as possible, to meet those demands in line with the obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of the international norms, which are translated into Bosnia's state legislation,” said Crvenkovic.

He urged the authorities to reach “a coordinated agreement” to this situation. “They are escaping from war, expulsion, blatant violations of human rights and they should be perceived and accepted in that sense,” added Crvenkovic.

The UN's team for Bosnia earlier welcomed the efforts of Bosnia's authorities to secure humane conditions for accommodation of migrants and refugees by providing them a shelter in the refugee centre Salakovac.