Operative HQ: Number of migrants drastically decreased

Ministarstvo sigurnosti BiH

Bosnia's Operative Headquarters for migration held its first meeting discussing the current migrant situation in Bosnia and proposed solutions to the prevention of illegal border crossings. Bosnia's Security Minister Dragan Mektic said the previous border control measures already resulted in a decreased number of migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

One of the conclusions of the meeting was that increased border controls have resulted in decreased migrant numbers in the country. The Operative Headquarters will request the help from other police agencies in the country, apart from the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies, in assisting the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Security Minister Mektic, who presided over the meeting stressed that the previous measures have drastically decreased the number of illegal border crossings into the country.

The meeting participants also agreed to provide an additional location near Sarajevo for the housing of migrants next week, and that they would find adequate housing for the migrants in the territory of the Una-Sana Canton.

Today's meeting was also attended by Peter Van der Auweraert, the Head of the International Migration Organization.

Bosnia's Operative Headquarters consists of Bosnia's Security Ministry, the Human Rights and Refugees Ministry, the Foreign Policy Ministry, Bosnia's Border Police, the State Investigation and Protection Agency and the Foreigners’ Affairs Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both entity and the Brcko District operative headquarters are also part of the state Operative Headquarters.