IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina COVID-19 response

As the numbers of positive Covid-19 cases continue to rise in BiH, positive cases among migrants accommodated in TRCs have been detected as well.  

The positive cases remain under mandatory quarantine in a designated space within the centres. To alleviate the pressure of the situation, IOM is purchasing games, musical instruments and other pastimes for adults and children in isolation, as well as additional fruit and vegetables to support faster recovery with more vitamins.

Currently the situation is under control, all cases are asymptomatic, and migrants’ conditions are being closely monitored by the relevant Healthcare institutions. Personal protective items have been widely distributed to the migrants in the five official centres, but also to those who are sleeping rough that were reached by our Outreach teams.

IOM is constantly working on improving both facilities and infrastructure to better adhere to COVID-19 prevention recommendations. Up-to-date information has been shared trough posters, brochures and infographics in languages spoken by the migrants.

In close coordination with the authorities, the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs and the Ministry of Security of BiH, with the support of the European Union and other donors, IOM continues its day-to-day operations in the reception centres, while closely following the COVID-19 prevention protocols and guidelines issued by the authorities.

The EU Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) provided crucial support in responding to this situation, especially ensuring that migrants and staff are promptly tested.

COVID-19 does not discriminate; nor should our response. IOM staff remains available 24/7 in the centres and working in shifts to respond to migrants’ needs so that no one is left behind.

IOM Bosna i Hercegovina – Odgovor na COVID-19

Kako broj pozitivnih slučajeva COVID-19 nastavlja rasti u BiH, registrirani su i pozitivni slučajevi među migrantima smještenim u privremenim prihvatnim centrima.

Pozitivni slučajevi ostaju u obaveznoj karanteni u definisanim prostorima unutar centara. Da bi ublažio pritisak trenutne situacije, IOM je nabavio različite društvene igre, muzičke instrumente i obezbijedio druge vidove zabave za odrasle i djecu u izolaciji, te dodatno voće i povrće kao dodatnu vitaminsku potporu bržem oporavku.

Trenutno je situacija pod kontrolom, svi slučajevi su asimptomatski, a odgovarajuće zdravstvene ustanove pomno prate stanje migranata. Lična zaštitna oprema se često distribuira migrantima u pet službenih centara, ali i onima koji spavaju van smještaja, a do kojih su došli naši Outreach timovi.

IOM ulaže velike napore na poboljšanju objekata i infrastrukture u cilju boljeg pridržavanja preporuka za prevenciju COVID-19.

U bliskoj saradnji sa vlastima, Službom za poslove sa strancima i Ministarstvom sigurnosti BiH, uz podršku Evropske unije i drugih donatora, IOM nastavlja svoje svakodnevno djelovanje u prihvatnim centrima, pomno prateći protokole i smjernice za prevenciju COVID-19 koje su izdale vlasti.

Instrument Evropske unije koji doprinosi stabilnosti i miru (IcSP) pružio je ključnu podršku u odgovoru na ovu situaciju, posebno osiguravajući da se migranti i osoblje odmah testiraju.

COVID-19 ne diskriminira; a ne diskrimira ni naš odgovor. Osoblje IOM-a i dalje je dostupno u privremenim prihvatnim centrima 24 sata dnevno, 7 dana u sedmici i radi u smjenama kako bi odgovorilo na potrebe migranata, kako niko ne bi bio zapostavljen, niti zaboravljen.