Appeal from the Association Pomozi.ba: We ask Serbian authorities to ease the import of humanitarian goods

Members of the Association ''Pomozi.ba'' from Sarajevo ask Serbian authorities to provide relief for the import of humanitarian goods so that associations operating outside that country's borders can help migrants from the Middle East, reports the Patria news agency.  

Namely, their goal is to send aid of great value, involving several truckloads, but due to border issues they are unable to realize this.

- We were on the ground, people need help, but we cannot transport it across the border. Colleagues from other associations have been trying to cross the border for days, but their vans and trucks are turned back due to allegedly incomplete paperwork. For example, among other things, they ask us for a customs number, but as an association we cannot have that because we are not a company - say members of the Association Pomozi.ba.

Furthermore, they emphasize, a veterinary certificate is required for cans containing meat. However, for that certificate, all goods must be uniform, meaning the entire shipment would have to be of one type and from one manufacturer.

- That is simply not possible; people donate what they have. We do not have money to buy what we want; we give away what we receive - they point out.

They say that during a visit to Belgrade, they spoke with members of humanitarian associations operating in the Republic of Serbia, who visited refugees in Kanjiža and Preševo, and it is evident that they need help, from food to clothing. It is raining, they note, and people have nothing to protect themselves with, nor blankets to wrap themselves in.

- We have everything, we want to help them, but we do not have the opportunity. We will make an effort and will not give up on our goal to help them, and we hope to find understanding, because our primary goal is to help those who belong to the most vulnerable category, namely women and children - emphasize members of the Association Pomozi.ba.