Bosnia's Security Ministry has contacted the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), demanding international assistance to help the country combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry said on Thursday.

The request was sent via Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), following the approval of the Council of Minister which held a session on Wednesday.

Fahrudin Radoncic, the Security Minister, informed the European Commission and Euro-Atlantic assistance centre EADRCC about the measures that Bosnian authorities introduced to tackle the crisis caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak. He said that all available resources were engaged and that authorities are putting maximum efforts to stop the virus spread.

Despite all the efforts, the healthcare system and other relevant sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina have no capacities to respond adequately to all the needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister stressed, adding that the international assistance would be highly appreciated at this moment so that the country is capable of coping with the pandemic and its consequences.