Refugees from Ukraine, who fled the war that hit their homeland a month ago and found safety in Russia from Medjugorje, are leaving our country because their 30-day stay has expired and are leaving for Poland, Croatia or returning home.
President of the Association of Tourism, Hospitality and Room Rental from Medjugorje Davor Ljubic says for Klix.ba that today the first group of refugees of 14 children and seven women left Medjugorje for Poland, and that the second group of refugees is preparing to go to Croatia, and some even Ukraine.
“It is very difficult for them, because they came to BiH, a country related to them, where they thought to be for a short time while the situation in their country stabilizes and return to their homes. But as they became aware that the situation is more serious than they could think, now they are in a very difficult situation. They are separated from their families and now they are moving from one uncertainty to another, “Ljubić told Klix.ba.
According to him, the scenes of departure were very emotional both among the citizens of Ukraine who are leaving and among their hosts who know what they are going through and sympathize with them, but also among other citizens of Ukraine who are about to go into new uncertainty.
“Another bus with Ukrainian citizens will leave Medjugorje on Friday. Some of them will stay in Croatia in Dubrovnik, and some will go to Ukraine in the Transcarpathian region along the Polish-Hungarian border where there are no war conflicts, hoping to return to their homes sooner.” , Ljubic explains.
Refugees staying in Medjugorje are also in great uncertainty looking for a way to return to their homeland or as close to Ukraine as possible, but the problem is that capacities in those countries are mostly already full and difficult to find, which is why EU assistance is expected.
Around 300 refugees from Ukraine are staying in Medjugorje, and so far only three families have applied for asylum, which allows them to extend their stay for 14 days in our country.
