Children that are currently situated in refugee centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are in need of most basic human essentials and want to have equal chances as other children, global Christian humanitarian organization World Vision stated in a press release on Children’s Day on Friday.
A total of 4,870 illegal migrants have entered BiH since the beginning of this year, among whom, currently, there are 40 children in migrant camp Salakovac near the city of Mostar, some 130 kilometers southwest from the capital Sarajevo and 30 children in migrants’ center in Bihac, some 310 km northwest of the capital.
World Vision recalls that BiH is a country where children migrants enter legally and illegally, seeking for the most basic needs such as adequate nutrition, clean clothing and adequate footwear, access to education and health care, and a place where they can feel safe.
Children migrants originating from Syria, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are faced with uncertain future, forced to spend their childhood in hostels, tents, refugee centers and at the same time, exposed to various risks.
Various global and international organizations such as Red Cross, UNICEF, along with World Vison, have put their “human and material resources in service to help families with children”, donating clothing, footwear, hygiene packages and basic food. Additionally, organizers announced that they have started with preparations of the Center for Mothers and Babies in the Salakovac Migrants Center, where mothers and children will have the needed support.
BiH citizens have been organizing numerous activities with the aim of helping migrants to deal with their problems, making their life dignified.
Thus, they organized cartoon screening and drawing for all children on Thursday, spoke with mothers and children about their problems and distributed hygiene packages.
According to UNICEF statistics, currently there are 5.4 million child migrants in Europe.
International Children’s Day was established in 1949 by the Women’s International Democratic Federation. Currently, many countries in the world annually celebrate the day on June 1.
Sarajevo Times
