At a meeting on Thursday, the Task Force for Coordination of Activities and Monitoring of the Migrant Crisis in Una-Sana Canton (USK) reaffirmed its position on the need to close Bira and Miral reception centers and stressed that from November 15, police will completely restrict freedom of movement for all users of the services of these temporary centers, Oslobodenje news portal reports.
Bosnia and Minister of Security Dragan Mektic recently said that the closure of Bira and Miral is currently impossible, but there is no any official information on the possible extension or termination of the contract for the use of these premises.
“The contracts expire on November 15th and the Task Force’s position on this issue is clear. Due to the control and surveillance of the security and health situation, we have decided to restrict the movement of all migrants currently staying in these two centers,” – said USK Interior Minister Nermin Kljajic.
Kljajic added that the Task Force was forced to make such a move, primarily to protect the citizens of Bihac and Velika Kladusa and their properties, or because of, as he said, “a series of false promises made by representatives of the competent state institutions.”
“Police will restrict the movement of Bira and Miral migrants, and residents will only be able to leave camps after they express a desire to leave the Canton. We can no longer tolerate false promises to relieve this part of BiH, because the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Una-Sana Canton (MIA USK) recorded about 43,000 migrants here this year alone,” Kljajic emphasized.
Special concern was expressed about the health situation in the temporary camp at Vucjak, but it was reiterated that there was no alternative solution at the moment.