The construction of the migrant centre Lipa in northwestern Bosnia has finally been completed, and according to officials who spoke at the opening event, the country is now able to provide adequate winter accomodation for migrants.
According to Slobodan Ujic, Director of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, addressed the audience, the camp meets European criteria and provides full protection to migrants.
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“We are completely ready for the winter,” he said, expressing gratitude to the European Union, “without which BiH would not be able to provide conditions for migrants.”
“We all remember the crisis, and today we can be proud of the results achieved throughout this year,” he said, noting that the number of migrants in all accommodation capacities is now about 2,500, while “last year, we had about 12,000 illegal migrants.”
Ujic said that the Lipa centre is also “a symbol of the state that took matters into its own hands” and a “turning point,” as it is the first reception centre that is completely managed by the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs.
Johann Sattler, head of the EU Delegation to BiH, noted that migrants were also staying at this same location 11 months ago, but in very difficult conditions.
He said that a humanitarian crisis threatened hundreds of migrants, “we were facing a catastrophe.”
Today we are here and we are in the middle of the migrant Lipa camp. This is the result of effective cooperation between the Ministry of Security, local authorities, the EU and it is proof that the cooperation produces results. This is a good indicator that dialogue is resolving the crisis,” he said, calling the construction of the camp “a success story of BiH.”
The mayor of Bihac, the city close to the camp which was severely affected by the migrant crisis, said that “this was an ordinary meadow, and now it is a city.”
“Migrants will leave someday, but this will stay with us. I am glad that my city was part of the solution, actively participated in everything,” he said.
The Lipa centre will have the capacity to accommodate about 1,500 people, and that it should significantly reduce the pressure of a large number of migrants and refugees on the city centre, public areas and abandoned buildings in Bihac.
The centre includes a special part for vulnerable categories of migrants, such as families with children and unaccompanied minors.
It will be managed by the BiH Service for Foreigners’ Affairs in cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other international organisations.
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