Syrian Abdalkarim Zahra has seen too much in his 26 years: war, poverty, hunger and flight. From a transit camp in Serbia, he dreams of reaching Germany.
The war in Syria is reaching the heart of Europe, with hundreds of thousands of refugees leaving the Middle East through the Western Balkans. Their voyages are filled with peril and suffering, but along the way they're receiving solidarity and help.
Conflicts, civil strife and economic conditions in the Middle East, Asia and Africa dramatically increased the flow of refugees and economic migrants to Europe in 2015. Many have reached Serbia, where Caritas is providing aid.
Caritas Internationalis calls upon governments, communities and all people of good will to welcome refugees while working for peace as a priority in their homelands.
Caritas launches appeal to help refugees and migrants crossing Serbia, providing 100,000 people with food, water, counselling, sleeping bags, health and clothes.
Migrants fleeing poverty and persecution in the Middle East, Africa and Asia are trying to get to the European Union through Turkey, Macedonia and Serbia. They face harsh conditions.
Nearly one month after terrible flooding hit the Balkans, Caritas relief programme is shifting from an emergency phase towards rehabilitation phase.
Caritas is providing food and clothes to people caught by record flooding in Serbia and Bosnia, and will help with the clean up efforts and getting communities back on their feet.
Caritas in Bosnia and Serbia are providing children, the elderly and families in need who have seen their homes and belongings washed away in the worst flooding in over a century.