Una-Sana Canton's (USK) Task Force for the Coordination of Migrant Activities said Tuesday that the reopening of Lipa and Bira migrant camps will further complicate the security situation in this western Bosnian canton, distancing themselves from the potential humanitarian crisis these moves could trigger.

Given that the USK authorities have met all the requirements set before them three years ago, by the EU and state institutions, the Task Force expresses its dissatisfaction with the request to reopen the Bira reception centre, located in the urban part of the city, in a populated area near the centre of Bihac, without specifying the period for which the migrants will be resettled in the populated area without the consent of either the local community or the USK Assembly,” they said.

The Task Force also distanced themselves from the humanitarian crisis in the Lipa camp because the competent authorities missed the opportunity to act timely in taking over of the camp.

“BiH Security Ministry's Unilateral decisions on the reopening of the Bira camp in the populated area of Bihac will further complicate the security and epidemiological situation” in the Canton warning of possible protest rallies in this area.

On Monday, Bosnia’s Council of Ministers (as the government is officially called) 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.

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.