Relevant actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina are insufficiently prepared and coordinated to respond to the current situation with migrants and refugees, showed an assessment report on the migrant and refugee situation in Bosnia prepared by the Mission of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Sarajevo.
Bruce Berton, chief of the mission, said it was necessary to establish effective communication network in order to regularly transfer the information onto the local, cantonal, entity and the state level.
“We need to strengthen the capacities of the most relevant governmental agencies, we also need more trained and qualified staff, including interpreters, cultural mediators and female officials,” said Berton pointing out the necessity of a regular communication with international organizations, embassies and major NGOs to discuss the most recent developments and financial needs.
Right now: Head of the @OSCEBiH Ambassador @BertonBruce addresses media at Launching of the Assesment Report on the Migrant and Refugee Situation in BiH, which provides an overview of key actors response to migrant crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina pic.twitter.com/88z2zcr6fi
— OSCE Mission to BiH ?? (@OSCEBiH) September 25, 2018
The competent institutions are expected to solve four crucial issues by end of the year. To ensure the energy sources for the heating purposes, to continuously provide food and hygienic supplies, secondary and tertiary healthcare and, finally, ensuring the quality registration on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and use of asylum procedures in full capacities.
OSCE Mission recommended the improvement of data collection and data management to ensure a more efficient monitoring of the situation.
The mission thanked the UNHCR and the UNICEF for the support and their contribution in the assessment report, which provided a detailed review of the key stakeholders’ activities in the field as well as recommendations for seeking the better solutions for increasing number of migrants and refugees in Bosnia.
