17 migrants died this month while trying to reach EU member states through Serbia, declared the Commissioner for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia, Vladimir Cucic.

The most recent tragedy was recorded in Hungary, near the border with Serbia, when a vehicle with Serbian plates carrying migrants got involved in an accident trying to flee a police check. Seven people died and four were injured.

In November, three minors died and 19 were injured in southeastern Serbia in a van crash.

“When you see the number of deaths, it becomes so clear how desperate they are to continue their journey”, said Cucic in front of reporters.

A majority of those who try to cross the border between Serbia, Hungary or Romania are from Afghanistan and Syria, explained the commissioner.

Serbian authorities try to arrest the traffickers that help migrants cross into the EU.

Seven were arrested on November 10 and charged with human trafficking. Another 5 were arrested in September suspected of having received up to €10,000 to help a least 15 migrants get to Croatia and then in Austria and Germany.

According to data from the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration more than 1 million people have crossed the border through the Serbian route from the beginning of the migrant crisis in 2015.

A majority come from Afghanistan (35%), Syria (22%), Bangladesh (11%) and Pakistan (7%).