The barracks near Mostar are the new home for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and their relatives who arrived in the country on November 20th after being evacuated from the Gaza Strip.
They are located in the refugee center in Salakovac, about 15 kilometers from this city in the south of BiH.
Among them is 56-year-old Sutka El-Barawi, who worked in a dental practice in the Gaza Strip. She says she lived in Gaza for 33 years.
She came to BiH with 11 family members and all of them are housed in ground-floor facilities within the complex of the refugee center under the authority of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH.
“It’s wonderful here for me. I feel good because of my family, children. It’s warm, and clean, there is food, we have everything, everything is provided. We are happy and grateful,” Sutka explained while showing a room with three beds.
The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees provided meals and medical assistance to all BiH citizens and their relatives. Everyone located in Salakovac also has the right to free movement.
The ministry announced that they have apartments ready in several cities in BiH, as well as the possibility of schooling for their children.
“We have apartments throughout BiH, in more than ten cities. We are waiting for their decision whether they want to go to those apartments, and when they decide, the state stands behind all of this and will cover the costs,” said Sevlid Hurtic, the responsible minister who was in the refugee center Salakovac on November 23rd.
Life in the Gaza Strip
Citizens of BiH and their relatives said that they witnessed war suffering while they were waiting for evacuation to BiH. ”There was shooting and fear, ” says Sutka El-Barawi.
The BiH authorities announced that they will begin the procedures for people who are housed in Salakovac to receive documents, Slobodna Evropa reports.
Photo: arrival of BiH citizens from Gaza
