The European Commission announced on Thursday it would provide EUR 1.5 million in humanitarian aid for the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants stranded in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since the beginning of the refugee crisis in the Western Balkans, the European Commission has allocated more than EUR 25 million in humanitarian aid to assist refugees and migrants in Serbia, and over EUR 4 million to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The European Commission's financial assistance for Bosnia and Herzegovina comes at the moment when the country is faced with the growing number of migrants, who use Bosnia as a route to, as they say, their final destinations in the western Europe.

“The number of refugees and migrants arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina has increased and we must act swiftly. We are committed to help Bosnia and Herzegovina deal with this situation and deliver assistance to the most vulnerable refugees and migrants,” said European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.

Around 4,900 refugees and migrants entered Bosnia since early January 2018, according to government's estimates. Approximately 2,500 refugees and migrants in need of assistance are currently stranded in the country. The European Union (EU) will provide its assistance through humanitarian partner organisation already present in the country.