BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA MIGRATION RESPONSE

SITUATION REPORT 23-28 JANUARY 2021

On 23 December 2020, the Emergency Tent Camp (ETC) Lipa, Una-Sana Canton (USC) was officially closed due to its unsuitability for winter conditions. On the same day, a fire destroyed part of the camp, fortunately not causing casualties. As a consequence, the humanitarian situation of migrants and asylum seekers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has deteriorated dramatically with current humanitarian and protection needs exceeding the response capacity. Compared to 2020, the official capacity for accommodation in BiH has been reduced from 8,282 to 3,540 beds by the closure of TRC Bira and ETC Lipa in the last quarter of 2020. While IOM provided additional beds and increased the capacity in the Temporary Reception Centres (TRCs) Miral and Blazuj to accommodate more than 1,000 and 3,000 additional persons respectively, they remain overcrowded. Protection and health risks of migrants and asylum seekers residing in these active TRCs are aggravated by high occupancy rates, particularly considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

At present, around 982 migrants and asylum-seekers are stranded at the location of the former camp Lipa, subject to immediate safety, health and protection risks, further aggravated by continuous snowfalls and temperatures below zero. Given the seriousness of the situation and the continuous appeal from the United Nations, the European Union and other actors to intervene, former residents of ETC Lipa were temporarily accommodated in tents set up by the BiH Army and assisted by IOM, the Red Cross and other humanitarian actors, under the supervision of the BiH Service for Foreigners’ Affairs (SFA), after BiH Government decided to set up a provisional camp near the former Emergency Tent Camp. However, conditions at the site are very precarious for lack of water, electricity and sewage connection, very low temperatures and surrounding minefields.

An estimated 2,500 persons live in squats in forests and abandoned buildings throughout the country or en route, without basic shelter, hygiene services, COVID-19 screening and medical care available. From the day of ETC closure, the number of migrants and asylum seekers in these conditions more than doubled. Their situation is further exacerbated by the harshening of winter conditions with subzero temperatures. 

IOM teams are working 24/7 to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to migrants, and are also providing support to those sleeping outside in USC. Given the dire situation for migrants and asylum seekers, IOM continues to advocates to find sustainable solutions and is pushing for authorities to take charge of the processing and accommodation of migrants. On 30 December 2020, the Council of Ministers issued the decision that Lipa would be converted to an official Reception Centre, with State authorities in the lead and IOM providing technical support and funding, through European Union support. The conversion has started and will last a minimum of 3-4 months, depending on the weather conditions.

DOWNLOAD FULL SITUATION REPORT