IOM Data: How Money Donated for Migrants in BiH Was Spent

(Patria) - MP Saša Magazinović (SDP) waited a year for an answer to the question of how much money came into BiH to resolve the migrant crisis, who received that money, who is implementing support projects, in what amount, and for what purposes the money intended to help migrants in BiH was spent.

According to a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the amount of approved funds used to mitigate the effects of the migrant crisis in BiH as of March 29, 2019, amounts to 12,310,984 US dollars, which is about 14 million KM.

"After a year and countless repeated questions to the Council of Ministers, I received an answer about the money that entered BiH to address the migrant crisis. Of course, the question remains how this money was spent, but at least we know how much we received. But there will be more questions," says Magazinović.

For providing accommodation capacities, sanitary and hygienic conditions, food, and procurement of hygienic, clothing, and other non-food consumables, around 1.5 million dollars were spent by March 29, 2019, while 1.1 million was spent in Ušivak on improving accommodation, sanitary, and hygienic conditions for food preparation and distribution.

The largest amount of funds, 8 million dollars, was spent on ensuring, adapting, improving conditions and maintaining accommodation capacities, engaging and training staff to work with migrants 24 hours a day, assisting local executive authorities with equipment and working conditions, and investing in and improving public facilities within local communities affected by the migrant crisis.

Among the unrealized funds, almost 2 million KM donated by the Czech Republic for the Border Police, which needs to procure equipment, were mentioned.

"These funds have not yet been realized because activities and procedures for procuring specialized border surveillance equipment with the support of the European Commission are underway.

The Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in relation to mitigating the consequences of the migrant crisis in 2018, signed two contracts/agreements with donors, namely a contract with UNHCR as support for the asylum system in BiH, funds in the amount of 291,170.00 KM were donated, 261,942.21 KM were spent, and the remaining funds were returned to the donor in accordance with the contract.