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Photos: Migrants wander through Bosnia in Balkan winter

Bosnia's notorious Vucjak camp may have closed down after an international outcry, but the plight of migrants stranded in the country while trying to reach Western Europe is far from over. The tent camp near the northwestern town of Bihac stood on a former landfill and near a mine field, becoming a symbol of migrant suffering as they travel through the Balkans. The camp was flattened earlier this month, its residents transferred to other parts of Bosnia. Yet they are making their way back to Bihac because it is closest to the place they want to get to — Bosnia's neighbor, European Union member Croatia.

Updated on: Dec 29, 2019 1:16 PM IST

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A group of refugees walk their way under a blizzard as they attempt to enter the EU through Croatia in the mountains surrounding the town of Bihac, northwestern Bosnia. Bosnia’s notorious Vucjak camp may have closed down after an international outcry, but the plight of migrants stranded in the country while trying to reach Western Europe is far from over. (Manu Brabo / AP)

Updated on Dec 29, 2019 1:16 PM

A group of refugees walk their way under a blizzard as they attempt to enter the EU through Croatia in the mountains surrounding the town of Bihac, northwestern Bosnia. Bosnia’s notorious Vucjak camp may have closed down after an international outcry, but the plight of migrants stranded in the country while trying to reach Western Europe is far from over. (Manu Brabo / AP)

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Indian migrant Nishademi, 22, lies exhausted on the snow near the Croatian border. The tent camp was flattened earlier this month, its residents transferred to other parts of Bosnia. Yet they are making their way back to Bihac because it is closest to the place they want to get to — Bosnia’s neighbor, EU member Croatia. (Manu Brabo / AP)

Updated on Dec 29, 2019 1:16 PM

Indian migrant Nishademi, 22, lies exhausted on the snow near the Croatian border. The tent camp was flattened earlier this month, its residents transferred to other parts of Bosnia. Yet they are making their way back to Bihac because it is closest to the place they want to get to — Bosnia’s neighbor, EU member Croatia. (Manu Brabo / AP)

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A group of migrants enter an abandoned farm near the Croatian border. In Bihac, migrants look for abandoned buildings or factories, or stay in the town’s migrant center if they are lucky. They camp among bare walls, waiting for a warm meal from aid groups. With the winter settling in, migrants want to hurry toward Croatia before the weather gets even worse. (Manu Brabo / AP)

Updated on Dec 29, 2019 1:16 PM

A group of migrants enter an abandoned farm near the Croatian border. In Bihac, migrants look for abandoned buildings or factories, or stay in the town’s migrant center if they are lucky. They camp among bare walls, waiting for a warm meal from aid groups. With the winter settling in, migrants want to hurry toward Croatia before the weather gets even worse. (Manu Brabo / AP)

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A group of migrants stand by the rail tracks after being taken off a train bound to the town of Bihac by Bosnian police in Bosanska Krupa, northwestern Bosnia. The migrants have to go over a mountain pass and police often turn them back. They call it the “Game” — a cat-and-mouse chase with Croatia’s border patrols over the mountain tracks. Sometimes migrants try several times before they manage to cross; sometimes it takes weeks, even months. (Manu Brabo / AP)

Updated on Dec 29, 2019 1:16 PM

A group of migrants stand by the rail tracks after being taken off a train bound to the town of Bihac by Bosnian police in Bosanska Krupa, northwestern Bosnia. The migrants have to go over a mountain pass and police often turn them back. They call it the “Game” — a cat-and-mouse chase with Croatia’s border patrols over the mountain tracks. Sometimes migrants try several times before they manage to cross; sometimes it takes weeks, even months. (Manu Brabo / AP)

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Omar, 1, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo, cries while his mother Fatma, 24, comforts him. It’s toughest for families with small children. Babies can’t stop crying. Parents bring the children as close to the fire as possible to keep them warm, but they are tired and the severe cold nonetheless bites at their tiny faces. (Manu Brabo / AP)

Updated on Dec 29, 2019 1:16 PM

Omar, 1, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo, cries while his mother Fatma, 24, comforts him. It’s toughest for families with small children. Babies can’t stop crying. Parents bring the children as close to the fire as possible to keep them warm, but they are tired and the severe cold nonetheless bites at their tiny faces. (Manu Brabo / AP)

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A group of migrants wander around the rail tracks near the river Drina bordering between Bosnia and Serbia in the town of Karakaj. Bosnian authorities say there are several thousand people from the Middle East, Africa and Asia who are staying in the country while on their way toward wealthy EU nations. Bosnia’s border police say they don’t have enough manpower to stop the flow — the impoverished country is struggling to accommodate the newcomers. (Manu Brabo / AP)

Updated on Dec 29, 2019 1:16 PM

A group of migrants wander around the rail tracks near the river Drina bordering between Bosnia and Serbia in the town of Karakaj. Bosnian authorities say there are several thousand people from the Middle East, Africa and Asia who are staying in the country while on their way toward wealthy EU nations. Bosnia’s border police say they don’t have enough manpower to stop the flow — the impoverished country is struggling to accommodate the newcomers. (Manu Brabo / AP)

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But with nowhere to go in Bosnia’s harsh winter, some migrants opt to wait. They go back to the previous country they passed through, Serbia, to spend the winter, ready to try their luck again next spring. (Manu Brabo / AP)

Updated on Dec 29, 2019 1:16 PM

But with nowhere to go in Bosnia’s harsh winter, some migrants opt to wait. They go back to the previous country they passed through, Serbia, to spend the winter, ready to try their luck again next spring. (Manu Brabo / AP)

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