Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe 10.8.16
Topic
01 August 2016
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Greece official figures of number of "Guests" in detention centres on the islands and the mainland: 9.8.16 (pdf): Lesvos, Chios and Samos have more "guests" than their capacity.
Are You Syrious (9.8.16)
A rumour on impossibility for relocation for post March 19th arrivals is false!
"Nothing has changed in the law which makes people who arrived after 19 March not eligible for relocation. The EU-Turkey deal says nothing about cancelling the eligibility for relocation of people who arrive after 19 March, and even if it did, it is not itself legislation so it cannot amend the Relocation Council Decision 2015." [See Chart, link)
2016 is set to be the deadliest year yet for refugees. Why is no one talking about it?
"At least 3,034 refugees have died in the Mediterranean since the start of this year?—?almost as many as the whole of 2015. According to figures revealed by the International Organization for Migration, there has been an alarming surge in the death rate on Europe’s shores. Last year, 3,771 people in total are known to have lost their lives in the Mediterranean. Only halfway through 2016, the current death toll is very close to surpassing this."
CHIOS, Greece: Today on Chios we spotted a boat that was filled with refugees, trying to make the dangerous crossing from Turkey (link)
We soon realised it was in difficulty and followed it for four hours nearly to the end of the land, throughout this time the authorities were repeatedly called and asked to pick it up. They did not, despite being aware it was adrift and in severe danger.
There were 9 children onboard this boat. Even worse, a team of rescuers were prevented from going to save them. After the boat was nearly away from land and completely out to sea, they eventually went to collect the people.
EU-Turkey Deal: Returns On Standby (News That Moves, link):
"UNHCR data suggests that only 468 people were returned from Greece to Turkey under the EU-Turkey agreement as of the end of July.
No returns have been carried out since June 16, a UNHCR spokesperson confirmed to News That Moves today." (10.8.16)
Bulgaria fears a tide of refugees (DW, link):
"Now that the western Balkan route is closed, refugees are increasingly trying to reach the EU via its eastern Bulgarian border. The government in Sofia wants to stop this and is planning to install more fences....
a 30 kilometer long, 3.5 meter (12 foot) high fence has been erected along the Bulgarian side of the Rezovo. Now the fence is to be extended along the entire length of Bulgaria's border with Turkey.
Officials want to secure the country's 484 kilometer southern border to Greece with a fence as well. This is because the Bulgarians have witnessed an increase in the numbers of refugees attempting to cross their border to get to the EU as a result of Macedonia having closed its border with Greece.".
News (10.8.16):
Majority of Germans against EU-Turkey refugee deal - Two thirds of Germans are in favour of halting aid to Turkey and more than half want to end refugee deal, survey says.(aljazeera.com, link): "the Emnid survey for German weekly Bild am Sonntag showed 52 percent were in favour of the migration deal being terminated, compared with 35 percent who wanted it to continue. More than two thirds of the 502 people surveyed on August 4 also wanted an immediate freeze of aid payments to Turkey, and 66 percent wanted the EU accession talks entirely broken off."
90 migrants and refugees arrived on the Greek islands in the last 24h (ANA-MPA, link): "57,098 identified refugees and migrants were on the Greek territory on Wednesday while 90 arrivals were reported in the last 24 hours. According to the Refugee Crisis Management Coordination Body's figures, 21,777 of the refugees are in northern Greece, 9,881 are hosted in the region of Attica and 2,698 are hosted in facilities of central and southern Greece. 7,638 refugees and migrants are hosted in several facilities rented by the UNHCR, 2,756 in non-organised facilities 2,300 persons are living outside organised facilities. 10,042 refugees and migrants were recorded on the eastern Aegean islands."
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