Stranded in Bosnia, refugees desperate to reach Western Europe

Bosnia is struggling to deal with a large influx of Iranian refugees trying to reach Western Europe by way of the Balkans and visa-free entry to Serbia.

Although crossing the Drina River between Serbia and Bosnia has become more dangerous in the cold temperatures of the winter months, Bosnia is experiencing a large influx of Iranian refugees attempting the crossing.

The refugees are willing to undertake the sometimes deadly crossing because they hope Bosnia will be one step closer to the European Union.

The Iranians join the other refugees and migrants in Bosnia, often beaten and robbed by smugglers or police in the countries they have traversed to reach this point, only to be turned back at the EU border, leaving them stranded in the Balkan nation.

Al Jazeera’s David Chater reports from the town of Zvornik on Bosnia’s border with Serbia.