The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who were successfully evacuated from Gaza two days ago and transferred to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, are waiting in uncertainty for further instructions to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On the night from Wednesday to Thursday, 36 people from Bosnia and Herzegovina were evacuated from Gaza, after which they were transferred to Cairo and placed in a hotel, with a deadline of 72 hours to leave Egypt.
Among the evacuated citizens of BiH is Sutka Selimović Albarawy, who has been living in Gaza for 33 years. She spoke in a video message, which was forwarded to the Anadolu journalist by the Palestinian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
First of all, she thanked everyone who helps them in difficult times. She said, among other things, that they hoped to leave Egypt within 72 hours and go to BiH, but the situation, as she stated, is uncertain.
“Yesterday, we received news that shook us very much, namely that only 14 of us are leaving first, and that the rest are going on another flight, the date of which is not known,” said Albarawy.
As she explained, the problem is that the schedules are such that families are separated.
“On that first flight, only one part of the family that has an immobile child should go. My daughter Dalila also goes with me, her children stay there. I leave, leaving my children and grandchildren. It shocked and affected us a lot,” said Albarawy.
She added that they were subsequently told that these plans would be changed and that they received information from the embassy on how it was being worked on, that is, that the plans would be changed.
“We were told that the plans will be changed and that something will be resolved. However, no one can say exactly where we will go and what we will do. What is the final solution. We just want to know where our families will go,” concluded Albarawy.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet ensured the reception of the citizens of our country and their relatives who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip, and it is not clear when they will arrive in Sarajevo, reports Al Jazeera Balkans.
The extraordinary telephone session at which the BiH Council of Ministers was supposed to consider approval under special conditions for citizens of Palestine who are related to BiH was postponed.
Al Jazeera has learned that the Ministry of Security has withdrawn the proposed decision in order to change the data on the number of persons who should enter BiH and technical corrections, which, as stated, require time.
Earlier, Security Minister Nenad Nešić insisted on strict security checks.
Among the 36 persons, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and their families who were evacuated to Egypt from the Gaza Strip three days ago, the majority are children, said the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Qatar, a country that is assisting in the evacuation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. citizens.
Nešić: Session of the BiH Council of Ministers during the day
The session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina should be held during the day, and the only item on the agenda is the approval of entry into BiH under special conditions for Palestinian citizens who are relatives of BiH citizens, said BiH Senior Minister of Security Nenad Nešić.
Nešić said that the ministry headed by him prepared the decision for the Council of Ministers.
“I asked that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina provide me with an accurate list, with the exact number of people who should come to Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Gaza Strip. In addition, they should also provide their identification cards so we know who they are,” Nešić pointed out.
Nešić pointed out that only its citizens and their close relatives can enter BiH, clarifying that it is about parents, children and spouses who have BiH citizenship.
“All those who do not have BiH citizenship will pass the necessary security agency checks and then enter the country,” said Nešić and added that the decision that is being prepared defines Sarajevo Airport as a border crossing where these persons can enter.