Construction of Asylum Reception Centre in BiH completed

Bosnia and Herzegovina now has a brand new Asylum Reception Centret hat can offer shelter to those seeking asylum. This is the first shelter of this type and its establishment is one of the determinants for the visa liberalization process and the functioning of the migration and asylum process in BiH. The Centre’s total capacity is 150 persons.

The main objective of the project in which the Centre was built is to strengthen the ability of the BiH Ministry of Security to manage migration and asylum process, especially its Department of Asylum. It is generally considered that the facilities that are currently being used by BiH Ministry of Security, Department of Asylum, for this purpose are inadequate and do not meet basic international standards.

The construction of the Centre was supported as part of the project “Construction of Asylum reception Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, funded by the EU from the IPA 2008 – Part II programme. The total project funds was 701,468 Euros and for supervision 164,900 Euros. The BiH Ministry of Security co-financed project by providing500,000 Euros.

The EU aid programme assisted the building of the reception facility necessary for the reception and treatment of asylum seekers, the administrative building where the Centre administration will be situated, with additional rooms for NGOs dealing with asylum seekers. In addition, a new health care facility was built so that asylum seekers can have regular health checks. This facility will have a boiler room to heath Centre and a 100m3 water tank built at the back of the facility. A full internal road network, playground and playroom for the children of asylum seekers was also built.

After BiH Ministry of Security implements additional minor technical activities, it is expected the Centre will be fully operational in October 2013.

Europa.ba