CENTER FOR THE RECEPTION OF MIGRANTS OPENED IN BUJANOVAC

19. October 2016.

Bujanovac - A temporary Reception Center for Migrants, the capacity of which is 250 persons, was opened in Bujanovac. The center is located on the premises of the former battery plant "DP Svetlost" in Bujanovac, near the Skopje-Belgrade highway, on the main route of movement of the migrants through Serbia. The center is 2,000 square meters large.

On the occasion of his visit to the center, Minister Vulin said:

“We will try, within our capabilities, to reduce the number of tents and to increase the number of beds and built shelters, where people can stay for a certain period of time. However, Serbia isn’t a place that can be entered and left without any control, especially the control of the number of people entering and leaving the country," Minister Vulin said.

“We aren’t increasing our capacities and we can’t receive more people than we objectively can. Serbia isn’t and can’t be a parking-lot for migrants and for the people who can’t pass through any borders. Nevertheless, for those who are here legally and willingly, we will ensure, while their legal status isn’t resolved, their protection in accordance with the world’s standards ", Minister Vulin said.

Minister Vulin visited the aforementioned center together with the Head of Sector 1 of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Nicolas Bizel.

Mr. Bizel said that the EU had allocated 340,000 euros for the reconstruction of the facility and explained that the money hadn’t been spent just on the reconstruction of the building, but also on the purchase of the equipment, the construction of a special corner for children, etc. He added that the reconstruction of the facility was part of the support that the EU had been providing to Serbia since the beginning of the migrant crisis, during which it financially assisted Serbia with 40 million euros.

Apart from Minister Vulin and Mr. Bazel, the reception center was visited by the Serbian Commissioner for Refugees Vladimir Cucic, the Mayor of Presevo Sciprim Arifi and the Head of the Bujanovac Municipal Administration Ismail Pajaziti.

Source: Jugpress and Coordination Body