VIDEO: Balkans struggle with migrant crisis as winter looms
One -hundred-thousand extra spaces in refugee reception centres are to be made available in Balkan countries, but Slovenia, which is struggling to cope, needs help now.
The UN’s refugee agency the UNHCR has warned that bad weather may cause tragedies. There have already been case of hypothermia among people waiting in the cold.
Antonija Zaniuk of Slovenian Red Cross said the hardest thing to manage at the Brezice refugee camp was when people became restless and wanted to move on the the next leg of their journey across Europe.
“Short-term the situation is manageable. We have a lot of winter clothing, blankets to cover themselves with. We are distributing cups of tea, food. So short-term there is no problem.”
Croatia is one of the first countries to prepare for the winter months.
It’s building more substantial shelters at a transit camp on its border with Bosnia which will be able to accept 5,000 people.
But another approach is to persuade refugees to wait in Greece for paid flights to other countries offering asylum rather than risk dangerous winter treks through the Balkans.
