Ušivak is full, migrants from Sarajevo streets are being moved to Blažuj

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – In accordance with the KS Government's Decision restricting the movement of migrants in the Sarajevo Canton and their accommodation in temporary reception centers and prohibiting them from leaving the centers, the Sarajevo police have begun accommodating migrants found on the streets in the centers.

Mirza Hadžiabdić from the Public Relations Department of the MUP KS told Patria that the activities are being carried out jointly with the Service for Foreigners' Affairs. When asked if migrants would also be accommodated in the immigration center, Hadžiabdić said that it would depend on the decision of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs.

“Police presence has been increased in the area of migrant centers to ensure compliance with the movement restriction decision,” said Hadžiabdić.

Dražen Rozić, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) coordinator for the Ušivak and Blažuj camps, told the Patria News Agency that migrants are being accommodated in Blažuj because Ušivak has no more space. Almost 800 migrants are accommodated there. There were 1,417 in Blažuj.

“Nobody knows the exact number of migrants in Sarajevo, but we expect around 500 or 600 more. Additional accommodation will be set up within the Blažuj center by the end of this week or the beginning of next. We have ordered mattresses and beds,” said Rozić.

Yesterday, the issue with electricity in Blažuj was also resolved.

When asked if migrants are aware of the situation and why they have to be in the centers, Rozić emphasized that migrants understand the situation and that there have been no incidents because of it.

“They are not even planning ‘games’ because they know they are safest in the centers. There are still no suspicious cases related to coronavirus,” Rozić stated.