UN URGES FOR ECONOMIC AID TO REFUGEES IN SOUTH SUDAN – Dramatic situation in the country

/in /by

An increase in the amount of aid to South Sudan has been made by the UN in order to meet the needs of people in the war zone.

UN agencies have almost doubled the amount they are asking for South Sudanese refugees in 2017 saying they need at least $ 1.4 billion to help alleviate the “unimaginable” suffering of these people.

The UN refugee agency and the World Food Program had earlier asked for $ 1.2 billion to help more than 1.8 million people fleeing the war. But funding even this amount so far is only 14%, said the services in a joint statement.

“The suffering of the people of South Sudan is unimaginable … These people are near the abyss,” said World Bureau of World Food Program Director David Bisley.

THE DANGEROUS ROUTE THROUGH NIGER – More and more are choosing the “Mediterranean Corridor”

/in /by

In recent weeks, more and more refugees and immigrants have chosen the “Mediterranean Corridor” to reach the Italian coast.

Before even reaching the Libyan coasts, many refugees and immigrants, many of whom come from South Africa, go through Niger.

An important crossroads are considered to be the city of Agadze. A trafficker who spoke to Deutsche Welle said immigrants come from Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia and other distant African countries.

Traffickers benefiting from the transfer of refugees and migrants earn about 300 euros from each refugee. Niger has evolved into a  transit country for refugees and immigrants. Traffickers are transferring refugees on small without even countering the slightest resistance from the Niger police.

Following EU pressure, the Niger government banned these “transfers” and proceeded to many traffickers and truck seizures. Since then, refugee flows from Agadays have been reduced, but traffickers are seeking and finding alternative routes through the desert. However, these journeys are usually longer which makes them more expensive for refugees and migrants.

The journey through Niger is extremely risky. According to Judepe Loprete of the International Organization for Migration in Niger, the number of people losing their lives in the deserts of Niger is much larger than the number of those who do not survive the Mediterranean Route.

“In 2016, 5,000 people died in the Mediterranean. It is estimated that in the desert the number was three times, “he says.

For those who survive and manage to reach Libya, the problems are not over. Many sources confirm that in Libya many refugees and immigrants are victims of exploitation, blackmail and abuse by gangs trying to get ransom from their relatives to their homelands. Those who survive and still have money, are looking for small boats hoping that they will take them to European territory.

TURKEY: THIS IS HOW SMUGGLERS ARE OPERATING – Migrants arrive as tourists

/in /by

Increased, in relation to the previous period, are the flows of migrants and refugees in the northern Aegean islands.

In Lesvos, 359 people (281 throughout April), Chios 467 (505 in April) and Samos 83 (243 in April) arrived in the first 15 days of May. These arrivals have raised the number of island residents to 8830 from 8546 at the end of April.

Interestingly, however, are also data concerning the ethnic origins of those who come to the islands and especially to Lesvos. This shows that the vast majority of those arriving on the island are Africans, mainly from Central African countries. These are immigrants arriving in Constantinople, with direct flights of Turkish Airlines, without any control, since visa requirements are not required for those arriving in Turkey from these countries.

Information indicates that in Turkey today, expecting to start their journey to Greece and then to the other Europe, are about 1000 immigrants 70% of whom are Africans. There is a large number of people going to the islands, while the number of those from Constantinople is passing through Greece via the Evros or the Turkish-Bulgarian border. On the contrary, the number of Syrians and other refugees is considerably reduced and decreasing.

Finally, it is worth noting that the movement of African immigrants to Greece is part of a trafficking cycle of women for prostitution towards European countries.

FRANCE: HELPING NEW MIGRANTS TO EXERCISE THEIR ART – Easier integration into society

/in /by

In France, the professional rehabilitation of young immigrants is often a lengthy process, as access to employment is often difficult due to language or complex bureaucracy.

A year ago, Ines Mesham, a French-Tunisian anthropologist, founded the ”Fabrique nomade”, an association that helps young immigrants coming to France to use their skills and become professional in their new homeland.

Ines had this idea when she discovered accidentally that her mother was a seamstress in her homeland of Tunisia. But when she immigrated to France, she was unable to practice her profession and so changed her job.

Ines realised that her mother was not a unique case when she met Yasir, a man that was cultivating vegetables in the district of Paris. When she learned that the Sudanese immigrant was a potter in his homeland, he urged him to find a job where he could use his knowledge. Thus Ines decided to establish the Nomadic factory, where two other craftsmen soon joined.

The action of the association that focuses on the professional rehabilitation of migrants moves around three axes: supporting, strengthening and promoting craftsmen. Essentially it helps them start a project and get in touch with companies that could hire them.

SICILY: PROHIBITION OF SHIPS TRANSFERRING IMMIGRANTS- For precautionary reasons due to the G7 summit

/in /by

Italian government decided that from Monday ships carrying migrants will be forbidden to enter the ports of Sicily.

The decision was taken in the context of precautionary security measures for the Seventh Group (G7) meeting.

This ban will apply until the end of the meeting of the leaders which is on the 28th of the month. In other words, ships that collect and transport refugees and migrants on land should be rerouted to other ports in the South of Italy, probably to Bari, Calabria, Sardinia or the greater area of Naples.

Italian media say it is the first time that such a measure is adopted, given the increased risk of terrorist attacks. Part of the commentators, however, stress that this decision is contradictory since the world’s strongest countries have not yet taken effective decisions on refugee and migrant management.

ITALY: OVER TWO-THOUSAND REFUGEES RESCUED – Fewer refugee flows to Greece

/in /by

Two thousand three hundred immigrants were rescued today at the south of Sicily during 22 separate operations, coordinated by the Italian coastguard and the Rome Ministry of Transport.

Immigrants and refugees rescued in twelve lifeboats and ten boats and the operations were carried out with the participation of the Italian Coastguard, Eunavformed units, and non-governmental organizations.

In the last month, refugee flows have risen in Italy, while at the same time Greece has declining trends.

According to data released by the Greek Coast Guard Headquarters for April, in 38 incidents facing the port authorities, 1,117 refugees, 8 traffickers were seized and 9 vessels seized.

In contrast, 51 cases were dealt with in March, 1,723 refugees, 12 traffickers were arrested and 10 vessels seized.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RELOCATION AGREEMENT – Immediate relocation of refugees in the EU Member States

/in /by

The Resolution on the Implementation of the Refugee Relocation Agreement from Greece and Italy was adopted on Thursday 18/5 by the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The resolution, adopted by an increased majority, is strengthening the European calls for immediate implementation of the resettlement system by all EU Member States.

It should also be noted that 160,000 asylum seekers should have been transferred by September 2017 from Italy and Greece to the other EU Member States, in accordance with two emergency decisions adopted since September 2015.

So far only 18,000 refugees have been relocated, about 11% of the 160,000 target. Malta and Finland have so far been the only countries that have responded and are expected to meet their obligations to Italy and Greece.

A very limited number of relocations have been made by Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia. While Austria has stopped relocating, it has pledged to start soon. On the other hand, countries like Hungary and Poland continue to refuse to participate in the program, although they have signed up.

The new resolution adopted by the European Parliament once again calls on the Member States “not to resort to arbitrary decisions” and “to fulfill their obligations under Council decisions” by systematically transferring asylum seekers from Greece And Italy, “including those arriving after 20 March 2016”, within the deadline and until the target of 160 000 relocations is met.

The resolution also notes that “the legal obligations of the Member States do not cease after 26 September 2017” and invites them “either to accept the request for relocation or to justify refusals based solely on the specific reasons set out in the Council Decisions on relocations. “

EU-TURKEY AGREEMENT IS FUNCTIONAL – Thousands of Syrian refugees were sent from Turkey to the EU

/in /by

Five thousand 180 Syrian refugees were sent from Turkey to the EU, based on the refugee resettlement agreement of Syrian refugees from Turkey to EU member states under the one-to-one formula. According to Habertürk this figure in January was 2 thousand 992.

Over the last four months, the number of Syrian refugees received by the EU Member States from Turkey reached 2 thousand 188. This year Turkey received 2 million 999 thousand 441 refugees.

It is recalled that Turkey has made tough announcements in recent months that it will not implement the resettlement agreement if theEU Member States do not proceed to the visa liberation. Meanwhile, accepting more Syrian refugees on behalf of the EU side has reassured Turkey.

The largest group of Syrian refugees has been accepted by Germany. Germany received 1,784 refugees, followed by the Netherlands with 1,112, France with 736, Finland with 431 and Belgium with 286 refugees. Countries like Estonia and Portugal have received 20 and 12 Syrian refugees, respectively.

The number of refugees returned from 4 April 2016 by EU countries has reached 1,093.

SWEDEN: “CHRISTIANITY TEST” FOR REFUGEES – Reactions to governmental decision

/in /by

Strong reactions have emerged following the Swedish government’s decision to submit refugees who have applied for asylum to a ”Christianity test”, declaring Christianity as their religion.

The Swedish authorities believe that many refugees falsely deny their religion to increase their chances of accepting their application for asylum, as skepticism and Islamophobia have grown significantly since the terrorist attacks in various parts of Europe and beyond.

The Swedes have given the refugees to write tests of their knowledge of the Bible. In addition, there were questions about the differences between the Orthodox Church and Protestant.

In order to address the phenomenon, people who help refugees started “tutorials” to “educate” these people in order to be able to respond to the questionnaire.

WARNING FROM COMMISSION TO EU MEMBERS THAT DON’T ACCEPT MIGRANTS – Commissioner Avramopoulos gives a warning to Hungary and Poland

/in /by

The Commission is expected to decide next month whether to take legal action against EU countries that refuse to accept refugees and migrants.

The decision to resettle refugees and migrants from Italy and Greece to other EU countries has not been sufficiently implemented so far, with just 18,500 people being promoted to other EU countries. The 2015 plan provided for the resettlement of 160,000 refugees and immigrants.

Several countries are cautious about this plan, but both Poland and Hungary have refused to host migrants and refugees, while the Commission has noted that the Czech Republic has not done any action in the last year.

The message Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos was particularly tough, saying that “while the majority of member states are making real efforts in the European spirit, while other countries are insisting on not showing solidarity”.

The Commission also announced that next month it will decide whether to implement the infringement procedures of the decision to relocate refugees, against member states that do not meet their obligations.