Meet the brave 105-year-old refugee who traveled from Afghanistan to Croatia

Published October 30th, 2015 - 06:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

She is 105 years old but still dreams of a better life in a land free of war.

Frail Bibihal Uzbeki has made a remarkable journey from her home in Kunduz, Afghanistan joining thousands travelling for miles to seek asylum.

Arriving in Croatia, she told volunteers that sometimes her 67-year-old son or teenage grandson carried her on their backs as they made the arduous journey.

Wrapped in a green scarf and a brown blanket, she was brought on a stretcher to Opatovac refugee camp on Tuesday after crossing from Serbia with a large group of refugees including her family.

"I became homeless, a migrant, I've been on the road for a long time," she told an Associated Press reporter.

She told volunteers at the camp that she and her 17-member family travelled for 20 days to reach Europe.

"We had problems many times. I suffered a lot,” she told a translator. "I fell and injured my head. I have scars on my head."

"I've slept in rough situations. I have no home. May God give me a good life, I've been a Muslim, may God give me a good share in life."

Her documents have been checked by Croatian police who confirmed she is 105.

After receiving medical attention, Uzbeki was helped onto a train that took her and her family further west towards Slovenia.

The family hope to reach Sweden to seek asylum.

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