8 February 2019

International Organization for Migration (IOM) - the UN Migration Agency would like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude for the support and cooperation that the official institutions in Una-Sana Canton have provided to the IOM over the past period in response to the large influx of migrants. Without this support as well as the support of the local community, which have been crucial, the situation would have been much more complex and the humanitarian response to migrants whould not have been put under control in such a short period of time.

The Operational Headquarters of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina for managing the migrant situation has appointed IOM as a leading organization that will prioritize its activities in establishing the Temporary Reception Centers for migrants in the Una-Sana Canton.

Considering that the response to the large influx of migrants was one of the priority measures adopted by the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2018, with the aim of preventing major humanitarian and security issues, the EU has provided funds in the total amount of EUR 9.2 million , allocated to IOM, UNHCR and UNICEF.

It is important to mention that IOM employs 257 local staff members on the humanitary response to the migrant crisis. From that number, 177 work in direct assistance and 80 are cleaning and maintenance staff. In Una-Sana Canton, 80 people work on direct assistance and 64 are cleaning and maintenance staff.

In particular, the IOM as the leading organization for the management of the migrant situation has received EU  funds in the amount of EUR 7,342,168 million and as follows:

- The amount of EUR 1,250,000 has been provided by the European Union Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO). An overview of the project expenditures is as follows:

- The amount of EUR 6,092,168 has been provided by the European Union Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). An overview of the project expenditures is as follows:

IOM made an effort to ensure the support to the local economy, whether it is through purchases of different equipment and materials from local suppliers or through  engagement of the local companies to participate in the projects with their services.