Contrary to media reports, the new facility within the Lipa migrant camp will provide safety and high standards, the EU office in Bosnia and Herzegovina told N1, commenting on allegations that there is a detention unit built within this camp in Bosnia's northwest, for the migrants who pose a potential security threat.

According to the EU Delegation, the migrants who are put in those facilities will stay there up to 72 hours before they are sent to the Immigration Centre in East Sarajevo.

The work on the new facilities are carried out by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, the EU office said.

However, contrary to the statement of Bosnia's Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, which said that they have no competencies over the new facility, the EU's office said the new unit will be handed over to this institution.

“We want to clearly point out that the new facility will only be used in concrete and legally defined cases. Of course, the needs of migrants will continue to be met in modern reception centres, offering accommodation with protection, water, sanitary and hygienic conditions, food and non-food items, primary and secondary health care services, including psychosocial support, emergency support and protection assistance,” the EU office told N1.

They also recalled that the EU allocated more than 100 million euro for the support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the migration management processes, including the funds for the formation and management of seven modern private centres.

Officials in Bosnia northwest warn that situation with migrants could ‘escalate’

Last week a government representative of Una-Sana Canton in Bosnia's northwest sent an open letter to security minister Nenad Nesic, foreign minister Elmedin Konakovic and head of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs Zarko Laketa, asking them to clarify the influx of migrants to the canton's territory from Croatia, which they allegedly know about but did not inform the cantonal authorities about, and warning that situation could escalate.

“Particularly concerning are the indications that there is an unknown number of migrants among the newcomers to the USK territory, who could pose a potential security threat,” USK prime minister Mustafa Ruznic told the officials, noting that they reportedly gave their consent for a detention unit within the Lipa camp for those migrants.