Assistant Security Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Samir Rizvo, told N1 television on Wednesday that there are some 9,000 migrants and refugees in Bosnia at the moment, half of which are in the Una-Sana Canton, in Northern Bosnia.

He pointed out that €1.5 million provided by the European Council’s Development Bank will be used for the accommodation of migrants in Hadzici some 15 kilometres west of capital Sarajevo.

“The funds will be used for the renovation of Usivak barracks which could ensure adequate living conditions for migrants,” Rizvo said and thanked Hadzici municipality residents for expressing readiness to accept the migrants and refugees.

He added that the moving of children, families and other vulnerable groups of migrants to the Hotel “Sedra” in Cazin municipality in northwest Bosnia should begin Wednesday. Also, the town of Bosanski Petrovac “signalled they could build a large transit centre.”

Rizvo stressed the EU’s readiness to help Bosnia in accommodating migrants and refugees.

“The EU has long expressed readiness to help us and they allocated €1.5 million from their ‘Eco-fund’. The European Commission also expressed its readiness to provide us with €6 million from the IPA funds to accommodate migrants. The Czech Government will provide €1.5 million to Bosnia’s Border Police,” Rizvo said.

He warned that even though the migrant issue is in the competence of the state, the state level is unable to adequately respond to the ever increasing number of migrants, without the understanding of lower levels of government.

Follow N1 via mobile apps for Android | iPhone/iPad | Windows| and social media on Twitter | Facebook.