Urgent support to the earthquake-affected Health Centre Bihać in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The European Union provided urgent support to a health centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina, severely affected during the recent earthquake with an epicentre near Zagreb at the end of December 2020. This is part of a wider EU support to the region.

The Bihać Health Centre suffered extensive damage due to the earthquake that hit the region with an epicentre near Zagreb at the end of December 2020. Its building became not suitable for use due to the impaired structural stability and safety.

The impact for the local community was high, as the centre provides healthcare services to almost 60,000 residents and, in addition, due to the current COVID-19 conditions, to migrants and refugees currently residing in Una-Sana Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The European Union swiftly mobilized an emergency support measure providing six housing containers to the Bihać Health Center which will serve as a temporary solution and enable the medical staff to continue providing medical care to patients. The containers were funded through the project “EU Support to Migration and Border Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina” implemented bythe International Organization for Migration (IOM) with support of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Policy of Una-Sana Canton.

The transport and installation of the donated containers will be supported through the European Union funded project “Addressing COVID-19 Challenges within the Migrant and Refugee Response in the Western Balkans”, implemented by IOM and UNHCR.

Photo: copyright IOM

For more information:

The Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace

EU cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina