"Town of Twins"

"Town of Twins"

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Almedina (left) and Ajla Djulic live in the picturesque town of Buzim. The sisters are just one of many twins who live in the isolated community.

There were at least 21 sets of twins born in the town of 20,000 people during the 1992-95 Bosnian war. There may be many more, given the rate of migration due to poverty and unemployment. Local journalist, Nedzib Vucelj, is investigating the phenomenon and has his sights set on declaring the area the "Town of Twins".

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Admir (left) and Sadmir Bajric pose for a portrait.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Admir (left) and Sadmir Bajric pose for a portrait.

Almina (right) and Almin Duranovic pose for a picture.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Almina (right) and Almin Duranovic pose for a picture.

Ilhan (left) and Elhan Hilic pose for a portrait.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Ilhan (left) and Elhan Hilic pose for a portrait.

Mubina (left) and Mufid Veladzic pose for a picture.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Mubina (left) and Mufid Veladzic pose for a picture.

Dzenisa (right) and Merisa Kaukovic pose for this photograph.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Dzenisa (right) and Merisa Kaukovic pose for this photograph.

Mirela (left) and Mujo Balcinovic pose for a portrait.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Mirela (left) and Mujo Balcinovic pose for a portrait.

Adisa (left) and Adis Muratovic pose for a picture.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Adisa (left) and Adis Muratovic pose for a picture.

Merjema (left) and Merisa Baltic pose for a photograph.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Merjema (left) and Merisa Baltic pose for a photograph.

Sara (right) and Samed Dizdarevic pose for a portrait.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Sara (right) and Samed Dizdarevic pose for a portrait.

Edita (left) and Elma Pajalic pose for a picture.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Edita (left) and Elma Pajalic pose for a picture.

Sara (right) and Davud Catic pose for a photograph.
. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Sara (right) and Davud Catic pose for a photograph.

When Nedzib Vucelj's wife Emira gave birth to twins at the height of the Bosnian war, it was impossible to buy a suitable baby stroller: their hometown of Buzim was surrounded by rival armies.

Vucelj tried to borrow from a neighbour, but they had lent theirs to another family with twins. When Vucelj knocked at their door, he was told it had already passed to a third family, also with twins.

"That's when I realised just how many twins were here"
Nedzib Vucelj

Trying to track down Buzim's twins scattered around the world, Vucelj launched a Facebook page. Based on initial responses, he believes he has tracked down some 200 pairs.

According to medical statistics worldwide, one set of twins can be expected every 88 births, said doctors in the regional Bihac hospital. Based on their records for the past five years, Buzim is not exceptional, but the data are incomplete.

Given the town's isolation, the majority of women before and during the war gave birth at home, and many records have been lost. Locals are convinced there is a longstanding tradition of twins in the town, a five-hour drive from the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.

“I remember the years when nearly each class in the school had twins” said Zumreta Hodzic, a municipal birth registrar.

Kemal Dizdarevic, an unemployed father of 17-month-old twin boys, said there was a history of twins in his family and his wife's.

"Maybe they will be sportsmen," said Dizdarevic, who has created a miniature basketball game to entertain the energetic toddlers. "They can become anything, just not politicians."

. BUZIM, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic