Operational Group: Bira remains closed, prosecutor's offices to review institutional work

BIHAĆ, (Patria) - Today, a meeting of the Operational Group for coordinating activities and monitoring the migrant crisis in the Una-Sana Canton was held in Bihać regarding the newly emerged situation leading towards a humanitarian catastrophe at the Lipa location, which has been declared a temporary reception center for illegal migrants. 

Members of the Operational Group agree on the following:

“We warn the Council of Ministers of BiH that any decision on the return of migrants to the former Bira factory causes enormous public unrest, confirmed by their daily gatherings, and that they are prepared to prevent the arrival of migrants in Bira with their own bodies and other obstacles. We note that Bira has no conditions for accommodating such a large number of migrants, nor the minimum security conditions for the stay of illegal migrants. 

"We request that the Civil Protection of USK and the City of Bihać make available the material-technical resources and human resources at their disposal to provide assistance for the stay of illegal migrants in Lipa."

"We condemn the actions of IOM, which abandoned Lipa on December 21, 2020, leaving 1,400 migrants without any living conditions."

“We particularly condemn the dismantling of existing tents in Lipa, which has placed illegal migrants in even more inhumane living conditions at the Lipa location,“ it is stated.

“We call on IOM, UNHCR, and DRC to return to the Lipa location, where 900 illegal migrants are staying outdoors, in order to prevent the impending humanitarian catastrophe. 

"The Red Cross of USK is tasked with coordinating the daily distribution of meals for illegal migrants in Lipa and coordinating the humanitarian activities of non-governmental organizations and individuals within the center, as well as throughout the entire territory of USK." 

The Operational Group called on the Council of Ministers to relocate migrants to the Salakovac and Delijaš asylum centers for 90 days while works are being carried out in Lipa.  

"We request that the Council of Ministers finalize activities for the establishment of the Lipa temporary reception center near Bihać as the already declared official reception center, and that, starting today, urgent activities necessary for setting up containers for migrant accommodation begin, by transferring them from Bira to Lipa."

“We call on the competent institutions of BiH, especially the competent prosecutor’s offices, to review the work and actions of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs and the Ministry of Security of BiH during uncoordinated attempts to relocate migrants from Lipa outside the territory of USK, which has complicated the health-epidemiological and security situation in the USK area and thus endangered the lives of illegal migrants. We request that the legality of the decisions of the Council of Ministers of BiH regarding the declaration of temporary reception centers in the area of USK be reviewed."

"We request that the deportation of all illegal migrants whose residence permits in BiH have expired be carried out through the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs."