Migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina are facing serious risks and are in desperate need of urgent humanitarian assistance, warned the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) official.

“Despite the best efforts of aid agencies to provide food and shelter for migrants, living conditions remain poor and the risk of hypothermia is increasing as cold weather sets in. Without humanitarian assistance, it is difficult to see how many people will make it through to spring,” said Simon Missiri, IFRC regional chief.

According to the Red Cross, over 23,000 migrants entered Bosnia since the beginning of the year, hoping to move to the European Union (EU). An estimate of 5,300 are trapped in the country, staying mostly near the border with Croatia, which bans the migrants from entering.

Some migrants are accommodated in centres, formed by the foreign and local humanitarian agencies but some are still living in abandoned buildings, improvised tent camps, facing serious threats of low air temperatures that may go as low as -15 Celsius.

To meet the migrants’ needs, the IFRC and Bosnia's Red Cross asked for the assistance of 3.3 million Swiss francs (€2.92 million), to be able to provide food, hygiene kits and other items including blankets and sleeping bags over the next months.

The Red Cross of Bosnia and Herzegovina distributes food to up to 3,000 people each day, in six reception centres across the country, but their resources are limited, the IFRC warned.

“We are concerned that, without concentrated action, migrants will suffer a completely preventable humanitarian disaster. But, if we act now – and the actions that we are talking about are straightforward and easily achieved – we can provide some protection for migrants and their host communities in need,” said Missiri.