There were emotional scenes in eastern Croatia on Thursday as local people came to hand out food and supplies to some of the migrants finally departing after a long wait near the border with Serbia. As Croatia became the latest hotspot in the European migration crisis, the interior ministry said 8, migrants had entered the country by GMT. Several hundred were finally on their way to the capital Zagreb after a chaotic day in which thousands of people were trapped for hours at a small rural train station in the town of Tovarnik, waiting for transport.
They had been taken by bus in smaller numbers to another station at Ilaca, about 10 minutes away, to avoid overcrowding.
There were manic scenes at Ilaca as people barged their way onto the train, and clambered up and into the narrow windows. Old women and babies had to be pulled out from the crush, and arguments broke out over seats and floor space.
But things calmed down quickly as it became clear there was enough space for everyone, although many were set to spend the kilometre mile train journey standing or squeezed into doorways. Local women were the heroes of the hour, showing up with food -- including locally-made bread and jams -- water, and baby supplies.
We didn't help them, they helped us," said Ines Coti, a year-old who came to the station at Ilaca with her mother. I was scared to come, to be honest. They're people just like us. They deserve help, happiness, freedom. The area is right on the border between Serbia and Croatia and many buildings still show the bullet holes and damage left as a reminder of the brutal Yugoslavian wars of the s.
