European Commission provides half a million Euros for migrants in Bosnia

“Refugees and migrants continue to arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU is committed to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, supporting the efforts of national and local authorities,” said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides.

“Our humanitarian aid will provide food, water, emergency shelter, sanitation, health care and warm clothing,” he added.

The amount the Commission allocated on Thursday brings the EU humanitarian assistance in the Western Balkans to €31 million since the start of the refugee crisis in 2015, including €2 million for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2018.

The funds will be distributed for the centres in the northwestern towns of Bihac and Velika Kladusa, and those nearby Sarajevo.

Over 22,000 migrants have arrived in Bosnia in 2018 of which some 4,000 are in need of humanitarian assistance.

In May 2018, Bosnia's state government officially requested the EU assistance to tackle the migrant issue. The Commission said it would be closely monitoring the situation and do everything it can to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground.