• Home /
• News /
• 2016 /
• August /
• Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe 3.8.16

Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe 3.8.16

Topic

01 August 2016

 Greece asks for EU-Turkey migration deal ‘Plan B’ (euractiv, link)

 

"Greece’s migration minister has warned that a back-up strategy – a Plan B – is needed in case the EU-Turkey refugee deal collapses amid escalating tensions between the bloc and Ankara.

In an interview with the German daily Bild, Yannis Mouzalas said, “We are very worried. We need a Plan B in any case”."

 Amnesty International: Greece: address inhumane conditions for refugees now (link):

"As Europe drags its heels on providing solutions to move refugees and asylum-seekers on from Greece, thousands of men women and children are staying in filthy and unsafe old warehouses or tents, or simply sleeping rough and under the relentless summer heat. The Greek Government must act swiftly to improve their living conditions and well-being.

Elderly people, heavily pregnant women and new-born babies are sleeping on the floor. People with chronic illnesses and physical disabilities are stuck in unsuitable locations, far away from hospitals.

Thousands of children are out of school for yet another year."

 UK court rules against decision to accept Calais migrants (euractiv, link):

"The British government on Tuesday (2 August) won its legal appeal against a decision to let four Syrian refugees living in France’s “Jungle” camp come to Britain, but they will not be deported. A British immigration tribunal in January ordered the interior ministry to allow the four to enter Britain while their asylum claims were considered.

However, three Court of Appeal judges on Tuesday upheld a challenge by the interior ministry, saying they were “not entirely persuaded” by the justifications used by the tribunal. The three teenagers and a 26-year old with mental health problems had been living in the sprawling Calais camp for over two months."

See: Judgment: Full-text (pdf)

 UK: House of Common Select Committee on Home Affairs, Report: Migration Crisis (pdf):

Covers a wide range of issues like border security and terrorism. Observes that:

"The initial prompt for our inquiry was the issue of border security in relation to Calais and Dunkirk that arose in summer 2015. However, our concerns range much more widely that that. That there are unofficial migrant camps at the border of two of Europe’s wealthiest nations is a matter of serious regret and concern. A wide range of the evidence submitted to us by experts and volunteers confirms that the conditions in the camps are absolutely atrocious and are directly causing suffering and ill health for many residents....

It is clear that there are many people in these camps entitled to humanitarian protection or refugee status, including some who should have their claims processed in the UK....

Europol estimates that there are 85,000 unaccompanied minors amongst the migrant population in the EU. We were astonished to hear reports that large numbers of these children go missing from reception centres shortly after arrival and that they then face abuse, sexual assault and discrimination."

See also: UK unlikely to reach target of resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020 -MPs condemn response to refugee crisis as a ‘Europe-wide failure’ in which ‘too little, too late’ was done (Guardian, link)

 UNHCR (3.8.16) There have been 256,319 arrivals by sea in the EU in 2016: 160,232 in Greece, 93,611 in Italy. 3,116 dead/missing in the Med.

 Are you Syrious (link)

Greece: Athens Mayor Calls on Gov’t to Empty Squats Used for Housing Migrants

"Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis sent a letter to Citizen Protection and Migration Policy Ministers Nikos Toskas and Yannis Mouzalas asking for the evacuation of squats used for migrant accommodation....In the letter, that was also forwarded to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the mayor complains about the growing phenomenon of so-called solidarity groups occupying vacant public and private buildings and house migrants and refugees. The mayor asks for the migrants to be taken out and transferred to official migrant hospitality structures."

Refugees in Nea Kavala clash with the UN forces for the latter’s lack of care and inefficiency

"Refugees attacked the UN caravans (cabins ) after the UN told them that no refugees will be allowed to get out of Greece within, at least, the next 2 years.

Refugees are threatening to burn tents and walk to the borders. One refugee injured himself severely while attacking the Praxis container. He was hospitalized."

Two boats with, overall, 55 refugees landed on Chios

"The first boat landed near Souada camp. The other one was picked up by Oinassus."

Two boats with, overall, 47 refugees landed on Lesvos

"One boat in Turkish waters heading to the south of Lesvos was pushed back to Turkey by Turkish Coast Guard. One boat with 16 people was brought into Skala Sikamineas harbor by Frontex. One boat with 31 people spotted north east of Korakas was picked up by Norwegian Frontex and brought into Mytilene harbor."

 News (3.8.16)

Czech president warns of migrants' 'barbaric acts' - Czech President Milos Zeman has said migrants pose a security threat to his country. He also criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policies (DW, link)