Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina Selmo Cikotić during his last visit to the Lipa site near Bihać confirmed that preparations for the construction of a migrant center are in the final phase, and that construction work can begin soon.

-We want to organize all the work the best we can, i.e. to harmonize the activities of all organizations involved in this process. We hope that we will be able to harmonize the complete dynamics of the works with the planned deadlines, or more specifically to have important outlines of the migrant settlement at this location by the end of April or the beginning of May- said Cikotić.

Representatives of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of B&H and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) divided the process of building a reception center for 1,500 people into four phases.

-In the first phase, we worked on establishing the construction preconditions, i.e. clearing the area and preparing the terrain for the beginning of construction works. The second phase is nearing completion, in which planning and project documentation has been prepared, and financial resources have been secured for the construction of a migrant center. Tender procedures have already been announced, which should be completed within two or three weeks- said Head of the Office of the Minister of Security of B&H, Senahid Godinjak.

Full control and supervision over the current tent settlement at this location is under the jurisdiction of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of B&H, and dignified living conditions have been provided for more than 950 migrants and refugees.

He added that a certain type of preventive isolation was established last week, or temporary accommodation for people who are just coming to the camp and undergoing medical triage, thus trying to control the health and epidemiological situation as much as possible.