Ujic: Expansion of Accommodation for Migrants is not a Solution, but Border Protection

Bosnia and Herzegovina is dealing with migrant crisis and the situation is under control, office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Sarajevo told FENA, however commenting on assessments in that area, Director of Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of BiH Slobodan Ujic told FENA they expect an increase of influx of illegal migrants in BiH in 2019 by more than 40 percent compared to 2018, when over 24.000 persons entered BiH.

Ujic added priority is to better protect the state border, not increase accommodation capacity within shelters.

“Expansion of accommodation capacity is not a solution for BiH. The solution is border protection. Currently, there are two sides, one leading through Montenegro and part towards Serbia, especially from Visegrad to Bijeljina, where there is the largest ‘crossing’ of illegal migrants,” said Ujic.

He added that over 98 percent of illegal migrants have no documents and most of them are from Pakistan (35-40 percent) followed by migrants from Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, Afghanistan, Iran, and Bangladesh.

Since the beginning of the year, 2,707 migrants have entered BiH, the number registered until March 15th, which is by over 100 percent compared to the same period in 2018, Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of BiH stated earlier.