Salakovac refugees: "We won’t stay here for long"

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Bosnia’s Human Rights and Refugees Minister Semiha Borovac and the UNHCR representative for South-east Europe Anne-Christine Eriksson visited the Salakovac Refugee and Readmission Centre near Mostar, handing out gifts for children and a donation to the Mostar Red Cross.

Among the refugees who received a donation was an Afghan boy named Halil.

“I want to go to school, but I need to pay to attend school here. That makes me sad. We received gifts today. It means a lot to us. People help us a lot and we are very grateful for that,” Halil said.

His mother Hakima told N1 that they would like to see the doctor more often, they need medicine, and the food is always the same.

“The conditions here are good, however, we lack money. I have three kids, many needs. The doctor comes once every three to four days. I have a problem with my foot and I need medicine to heal. The food is the same every day, but we have no choice. However, we won’t stay here much longer. In two weeks we plan to leave for Germany,” Hakima said.

The Salakovac Centre currently accommodates 170 migrants and additional 30 migrants just arrived, Tuesday. A total of 33 refugees have been living there from before.

They were all visited by the Minister and the UNHCR representative amid the World Refugee Day.

“The Centre can provide adequate care and protection for the migrants, especially the refugees. What makes us happy is that the children who stay here for a longer period of time get to attend school and have health care,” Minister Borovac said. “Some of them will get the Bosnian citizenship very soon.”  

The number of migrants in the Centre constantly changes because they have full freedom of movement.