Brussels calls for admission of more refugees from Africa
The European Commission calls on EU Member States to bring significantly more refugees directly from camps of third countries and to provide them with protection and integration in Europe.
"I call on all Member States to step up their resettlement efforts and implement their commitments to receive refugees as soon as possible," said Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, reported Welt am Sonntag.
These relocations were particularly important for refugees who were evacuated from the civil war Libya to Niger. "It is necessary to carry out more emergency evacuations from Libya," said Avramopoulos.
He also welcomed the ongoing talks between the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the African country of Rwanda, where refugees from Libya may soon be evacuated as well.
The background of Avramopoulos' demand: According to UNHCR and EU, the host country Niger (and soon Rwanda) has limited capacity for evacuee refugees from Libya. The faster the refugees are then taken from Niger by EU countries, the more places are available for new evacuations from Libya.
According to Avramopoulos, "nearly 35,000 people" have come to Europe over the past two years as part of the EU resettlement program. "This is more than ever before," said the politician from Greece. "But we must not become complacent. Relocations should become the most important way to join the European Union for those in need of protection."
This way is safe, controlled and compliant, explained Avramopoulos: "We must make resettling a priority if we want to support partner countries that have taken in refugees. However, this is also important in order to provide refugees who want safe ways to Europe so that they no longer have to resort to dangerous and illegal sea and land routes."
Photo: A refugee camp in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic ( AP )
Source:
"Brüssel fordert Aufnahme von mehr schutzbedürftigen Flüchtlingen" (Die Welt, 28-08-2019)
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