22 September, 2015

CROSSING CROATIA

Since Hungary sealed its border with Serbia last week, refugees and migrants determined to reach northern Europe have started forging a new route through Croatia. But the small country has struggled to manage the sudden arrival of tens of thousands of people at its borders.

Pictures by Andrei Pungovschi

These Iraqis, resting in the village of Tovarnik, arrived recently from Serbia. — These Iraqis, resting in the village of Tovarnik, arrived recently from Serbia.

A young woman faints after being caught up in a large crowd of refugees trying to board buses organized by the Croatian authorities to take them from Tovarnik to the capital, Zagreb. — A young woman faints after being caught up in a large crowd of refugees trying to board buses organized by the Croatian authorities to take them from Tovarnik to the capital, Zagreb.

After tiring of waiting for a bus in Tovarnik, a group of refugees decide to continue on foot but  are intercepted by the police who try to convince them to return to the village. — After tiring of waiting for a bus in Tovarnik, a group of refugees decide to continue on foot but are intercepted by the police who try to convince them to return to the village.

A fist fight breaks out after a man is suspected of trying to jump the long queue of people waiting for buses in Tovarnik. — A fist fight breaks out after a man is suspected of trying to jump the long queue of people waiting for buses in Tovarnik.

Another crowd of refugees forms on the train tracks in Tovarnik, where many wait more than 24 hours for a train to take them north. — Another crowd of refugees forms on the train tracks in Tovarnik, where many wait more than 24 hours for a train to take them north.

With only about two trains a day departing from Tovarnik, the number of waiting passengers far exceeds the available space and authorities struggle to ensure that families with children are given priority.

A woman tries to convince police officers to allow her husband to join her on the train, but the doors have already been locked. Families often get separated in the rush to board the train. — A woman tries to convince police officers to allow her husband to join her on the train, but the doors have already been locked. Families often get separated in the rush to board the train.

Having made it to Croatia's border, refugees have another long wait for a bus to take them into Slovenia. Buses arrive every two hours and take only about 50 people at a time. — Having made it to Croatia's border, refugees have another long wait for a bus to take them into Slovenia. Buses arrive every two hours and take only about 50 people at a time.

Many refugees spend up to three days camping out at the border near Obrezje waiting to be allowed on to a bus. — Many refugees spend up to three days camping out at the border near Obrezje waiting to be allowed on to a bus.

“Please, take these, they are very, very good!” says a Croatian man handing out apples to a group of Afghan refugees who have already spent several days at the border. — “Please, take these, they are very, very good!” says a Croatian man handing out apples to a group of Afghan refugees who have already spent several days at the border.

Slovenian border police search refugees before they are allowed onto buses at Obrezje. — Slovenian border police search refugees before they are allowed onto buses at Obrezje.

Having made it past the border check, refugees walk towards a bus they have been told will take them all the way to Slovenia's border with Austria. — Having made it past the border check, refugees walk towards a bus they have been told will take them all the way to Slovenia's border with Austria.