Authorities in BiH’s Una-Sana Canton (USK) and the city of Bihac said on Tuesday that the request from state authorities to open the migrant camp ‘Bira’ near the city to accommodate some 1,300 migrants until works on the temporary ‘Lipa’ migrant camp are completed is unacceptable.
On Monday, Bosnia’s Council of Ministers approved the decision on forming the temporary migrant camp “Lipa”, which will consist of adapted shipping containers able to house 1,500 individuals in the Bihac area.
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The BiH Security Ministry then asked the USK Interior Ministry and Service for Foreigner’s Affairs for the Bira camp to be opened to temporarily accommodate the migrants until Lipa is made operational.
The USK authorities closed the Bira camp in October to prevent the migrants from moving freely through urban areas.USK Prime Minister, Mustafa Ruznic, told the media on Tuesday that the USK Assembly would discuss the matter at a session on Wednesday and respond to the request.
However, Edin Moranjkic, advisor to the Mayor of Bihac, told the media directly that opening Bira for migrants is not acceptable under any circumstances.
The migrants currently staying at the Lipa camp have no access to running water, electricity, or sewage.
“If it snows, there is a fear of the tent and the metal structure collapsing and the fear that someone will get hurt,” IOM activists said.
