Croatia struggles to cope with influx of refugees and migrants

Hungary is putting up more razor wire along its frontiers. So thousands of Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans and other refugees and migrants are making for Croatia. The government there has opened a reception camp, in the village of Opatovac, just across the border with Serbia. 

Reporter Rebecca Collard watched as migrants emptied out of bus after bus at the railroad station in the Croatian border town of Tovarnik on Monday. “These people are getting on trains bound we think for Hungary,” says Collard. “But nobody here seems to know where exactly these trains are going.”

“Most of all people are confused,” says Collard. “You can imagine right now watching families coming out of these buses, carrying their children, getting on trains, and not knowing where they’re going. And of course, that’s really unsettling.”

“Everybody here seems optimistic that they will eventually make it to their destination,” she adds, “and for most people that destination is Germany, or Norway, or another western European country.

“Of course they’re tired,” Collard goes on. “One family I spoke to from Damascus spent last night in this camp that’s been set up by the Croatian government to basically hold and process people, before sending them on, and they’re on a train to a location unknown to them.

“So for them of course it’s confusing and tiring. And so many people traveling with small children. Right now I can see them hanging out the window. There’s some volunteers here giving away water, and also toys for the children, bits of food for their journey onward.”