Migrant children in Usivak camp get Eid gifts

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Local donors have put a smile on faces of dozens of children in a migrant centre near Sarajevo, surprising them with Eid gifts on the second day of this Muslim feast.

“I am happy for the kids, for every single child. We don't have such moments in the country we come from. These people made it possible for the children to be happy, to smile. Thanks for everything. For all the help and to everyone here,” said Sara Ali, a mother from a migrant family.

The gift boxes the children got contain the necessities. Shoes, instead of toys.

Migrants say they are happy in the Usivak camp. They had everything they needed during the past month of Ramadan.

Those who were fasting are back to the queues for food today.

“We had everything we needed during Ramadan and Eid. The food was very good,” said Aid Huseini, an Iranian migrant.

The migrants were also provided with a prayer room. There are two imams among them but they gather all migrants regardless of the community they come from.

“Abdul Majjidi is from Afghanistan and he's very good. The IOM (International Organisation for Migrations) is also good, we don't have any problems in this camp. Everyone prays to Allah, everyone believes in Allah,” said Arslan Ali, a migrant from Pakistan.

Over 600 migrants are accommodated in the Usivak camp. Most of them come from Pakistan but regardless of their origin, they all have the same goal, to reach the European Union countries.

According to official data, over 6,000 migrants entered Bosnia since the beginning of the year, hoping they would eventually cross the border with Croatia and reach their final destinations.

As Croatia keeps its borders closed for illegal migrants, they find temporary shelter in one of the few camps across Bosnia.