The European Commission announced on Monday 4 January that it had mobilised an additional €3.5 million in humanitarian aid to help migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina who were left homeless after the fire in the Lipa camp on 23 December, possibly caused by migrants furious at the poor reception conditions, according to AFP.
This additional funding, designed to “help vulnerable refugees and migrants facing a humanitarian disaster in Bosnia”, comes on top of €4.5 million allocated by the Commission in April 2020.
About 1,700 migrants were left homeless in this area near the city of Bihac. “The situation is unacceptable. Winter accommodation is essential for humane living conditions, which must be guaranteed at all times”, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said in a statement on 3 January.
On 1 January, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, indicated on Twitter that a reception solution would be found in the coming days in the former Bira migrants’ centre, which will be able to house up to 900 people. However, accommodation has yet to be found for another 800 people. In the meantime, dozens of tents have been set up near Lipa, a camp that the Bosnian government plans to rebuild.
On 2 January, 46 MEPs, mainly from the Greens/EFA, S&D and GUE/NGL groups, called on Member States to relocate those left homeless in Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)