EU provides €1.5 million in humanitarian assistance to refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The European Commission announced €1.5 million in humanitarian aid to address the increasing needs of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants stranded in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The announcement brings Commission humanitarian funding in Western Balkans to €30.5 million since the start of the refugee crisis.

Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said: “The number of refugees and migrants arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina has increased and we must act swiftly. We are committed to help Bosnia and Herzegovina deal with this situation and deliver assistance to the most vulnerable refugees and migrants. Our funding will support their basic needs and provide emergency shelter, food and health assistance, as well as protection.”

EU humanitarian aid will be provided in locations such as Sarajevo, Bihać and Velika Kladusa in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The funding aims to strengthen the provision of assistance and to help organizations already providing first-line emergency response.

Since the beginning of the refugee crisis in Western Balkans, the European Commission has allocated more than €25 million in humanitarian aid to assist refugees and migrants in Serbia, and over €4 million to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

In addition to humanitarian assistance, the European Commission provides the Western Balkans with financial and technical support for migration and the refugee crisis, primarily through the instrument for pre-accession. Since 2007, the Commission has provided assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the area of migration and border management through the instrument amounting to €24.6 million.

According to government estimates, around 4 900 refugees and migrants entered Bosnia and Herzegovina since January 2018. Approximately 2 500 refugees and migrants are currently stranded in the country and need assistance.

Original source: EC
Published on 07 June 2018